1978 Homicide Case Closed After Suspect's Suicide

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. --The Dearborn County prosecutor has closed a 1978 unsolved homicide case after the death of the likely suspect.

Indiana state police said Penny Slayback was found stabbed to death in her Greendale, Ind., home on Aug. 11, 1978 by her 8-year-old daughter.

Troopers said Neldon G. (Kenny) Kinsel met Slayback two days before her death. Kinsel's truck matched one seen at the Slayback home on the night of the slaying, and Kinsel admitted buying a knife at the Dearborn County Fair, but said he lost it.

Prosecutors at the time said they had only circumstantial evidence and did not charge Kinsel.

In 2009, detectives reopened the case and re-examined evidence and witness statements. Slayback's body was exhumed and witnesses were re-interviewed. Detectives attempted to re-interview Kinsel, who refused to make any statements.

Prosecutor Aaron Negangard said he decided to take the latest evidence to the grand jury to see if he could get an indictment of Kinsel, but Kinsel killed himself last weekend, days before he was to appear before the grand jury.

After the death of Kinsel, the long-term person of interest in this case and, based upon the recent investigation, the probable suspect in the case, Negangard made the decision to close the investigation into Slayback's homicide.