Michael Jerome James, 35, has been indicted for the 2006 murders of 10-year-old Blake Dickus and 26-year-old Chynna Dickus in Franklin , Indiana. The charges follow a recent legislative change in Indiana designed to close a jurisdictional gap that previously prevented the adult prosecution of individuals who committed serious crimes as juveniles.
The 2006 Aberdeen Drive stabbings and the 18-year wait
On July 24, 2006, the Branigin Woods subdivision in Franklin, Indiana, was the site of a violent tragedy. Ten-year-old Blake Dickus and his 26-year-old stepmother, Chynna Dickus, were found with multiple stab wounds inside their home on Aberdeen Drive. According to the report, Blake's father, Sean Dickus, discovered the bodies upon returning home.
For nearly two decades, the investigation into these murders remained in a state of legal limbo. While authorities had identified Michael Jerome James as a suspect, his age at the time of the incident—just 14 years old—prevented the state from pursuing adult murder charges.. This delay left the victims' family without a resolution for nearly twenty years.
The jurisdictional dilemma facing Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner
The delay in prosecution was not due to a lack of evidence, but rather a significant gap in Indiana's legal framework. Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner explained to Fox News Digital that Indiana law historically granted juvenile courts jurisdiction over crimes committed by minors.
This created a "dilemma" when a suspect aged out of the juvenile system before they could be charged. As Hamner noted, because James was not charged while he was still a juvenile, prosecutors were left without a clear path to bring the case before an adult court once he reached adulthood. This loophole effectively shielded suspects who were identified but not charged before their 18th birthday.
The failed 2023 statute and the 2025 legislative fix
Legislative attempts to bridge this gap have faced significant hurdles in the Indiana court system. A 2023 statute change intended to allow adult courts to handle certain serious juvenile crimes was ultimately rejected by the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Supreme Court. The report notes that another case involving child molestation allegations tested this previous version of the law, leading to its judicial rejection.
Following those setbacks, lawmakers drafted a new law to address the concerns raised by the high court. The report states that a "2025 change" provided the specific legal mechanism required to finally indict Michael Jerome James for the 2006 killings. This new statute aims to provide the legal certainty that previous versions lacked.
Will the defense contest the 2023 "adequate notice" rule?
Despite the new indictment, the legal battle is far from over. Michael Jerome James appeared in Johnson Circuit Court on October 8, where Judge Andrew Roesener granted him until November 2 to secure legal representation. The next status hearing is scheduled for that same date.
A critical question remains: will James's defense attorney challenge the court's jurisdiction based on the timing of the crimes? Hamner noted that for acts committed before 2023, the courts have suggested the law may not permit adult prosecution because the accused did not have "adequate notice." If the defense successfully argues that the new law cannot be applied retroactively to the 2006 stabbings, the entire murder case could be jeopardized.
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