Man Convicted of Young Girl’s Murder

Anthony Stockelman, 39, was convicted of molesting and murdering ten-year-old Katie Collman in Indiana.  He was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility for parole after apologizing to the victim’s family in court.  

Katie was missing for five days before investigators found her body in a creek in January 2005.  Her hands were tied behind her back and she had drowned.

Investigators interviewed Stockelman early in the criminal investigation because he matched the description of the man seen with Katie on the day of her disappearance.  He also owned the vehicle matching the description reported by witnesses who saw Katie and him together that day.   

He was no longer considered a suspect, however, when a 20-year old man confessed his involvement in the murder.  This man spent three months in jail before further evidence linked back to Stockelman.  

DNA evidence collected from a cigarette butt tossed into the creek where Katie’s body was found matched the DNA of semen found in her body.  Investigators gathered a sample of Stockelman’s DNA, which matched the DNA found at the crime scene.  

While Stockelman gave a long apology to Katie’s family at a hearing after he was sentenced, the judge did not buy it and the family did not wish to listen.  He said he wished he could switch places with the little girl whose life was cut short by his deeds.

A skeptical Judge William Vance didn’t buy it.  “I heard you say you were sorry, but I heard no remorse,” he commented.  

Katie’s dad said he tried to tune out Stockelman’s voice but became angry after hearing of the murderer’s plans to write a book.