INDIANAPOLIS — A jury has convicted a 69-year-old prison inmate of murder in the death of an Indianapolis girl 26 years ago.
Paul Reese Sr. of Indianapolis is due to be sentenced July 18. He's currently in prison for burglary.
Reese was arrested shortly after 13-year-old Dawn Stuard was found strangled in 1986 but never tried until now. He was charged last year after investigators said new DNA evidence proved blood found in his basement belonged to the girl.
Reese's lawyer, Michelle Wall, said in her closing argument that the state failed to prove he committed the murder. She said others in his home on the day of the crime could have done it.
One of Reese's sons is imprisoned for the attempted murder of an Indianapolis police officer in 2008.
