Cold cases from Indiana discussed, mapped, and brought back into public eye. In this book, every chapter is a new case with new victims. From Burger Chef to Lauren Spierer, I cover all types of unsolved cases. Theories and serial killer studies incl...
The longer I work on cold cases the more frustrated I become. I am frustrated that cases are not solved, but what bothers me most is that when these people die it is as if they never existed in the first place. You can't find anything about their lives before their deaths. Some times it is like the victim appeared from nowhere. No obituary, no justice for hashtag, no news stories, and no outpouring of support to their family.
One such case is that of Sandra Yanez. From the information I was able to gather, which was very little, Sandra had a heart for service. She was a nurse at the Community Hospital on the east side of Indianapolis. In the weeks prior to her death she had signed up to be a block captain for her neighborhood crime watch. She was a woman that loved her community.
On August 31, 1997, at approximately 8pm, Sandra's boyfriend entered her home at the 400 block of Berkley Road. Upon entering the home, he found the body of his forty year old girlfriend.
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Police responded to the call. It was quickly determined that Sandra had been murdered. Her cause of death was blunt force trauma and stab wounds to her head and chest. When examining the crime scene, police found no evidence of forced entry.
The day before her remains were found, Sandra worked the night shift at the hospital. Little is known about the hours leading up to her death. Police searched for anyone who might have known what Sandra was doing in the hours prior to her death.
No obituary was published for Sandra, only a death notice. The notice stated her name, age, and cause of death. A blunt end to what one assumes was life the of a wonderful woman. She was more than a victim, yet she was only given very little news coverage.
Sandra is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. She was laid to rest on September 6, 1997.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS. You can also contact the Indianapolis Homicide Cold Case Unit.
__________________Sources______________________
"Deaths." The Indianapolis News. September 5, 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/image/313307479/?terms=Sandra+Yanez
"Murder Suspect faces Accusers." The Indianapolis Star. November 4, 2000. Pg 23. https://www.newspapers.com/image/107480594/
"Nurse Found Slain in Home on Northside." The Indianapolis News. September 2, 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/image/313301197/?terms=Sandra+Yanez
"Sandra H. Yanez." Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46054840/sandra-h.-yanez
Unsolved Homicides of the City of Indianapolis. http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPS/IMPD/Enforcement/Investigations/Homicide/Pages/home.aspx
Indianapolis Star. November 9, 1997. Pg 28. https://www.newspapers.com/image/107237836/
