What happened to Kandice Smith, Sheri Rottler Trick, and Kathie Rottler? Details explored ahead of People Magazine Investigates on ID

In 1975, the Indiana region was shaken by a horrifying crime when three young girls, Kathie Rottler, her sister Sheri Rottler, and their friend Kandice Smith were abducted, assaulted, and left for dead in a cornfield. Their attacker, later labeled the Indiana Slasher, disappeared without a trace, leaving behind fear and unanswered questions that lingered for nearly 50 years.

Despite surviving the brutal assault, the girls were haunted by the unresolved case, which grew cold as leads dried up. The gripping story is now revisited on People Magazine Investigates with a new episode titled The Indiana Slasher. This episode uncovers how modern forensic science, specifically DNA analysis and genealogy technology, finally identified the attacker, Thomas Edward Williams, decades after the crime.

The episode features emotional interviews with the survivors and retired investigators and highlights their journey toward justice. The Indiana Slasher will air on Monday, December 30, 2024, on Investigation Discovery, offering closure to a decades-long mystery.

---

What happened to Sheri Rottler, Kathie Rottler, and Kandice Smith on the day of the attack

On August 19, 1975, Sheri Rottler, her sister Kathie, and their friend Kandice Smith decided to hitchhike home from a gas station in Indianapolis. A man in a station wagon stopped to pick them up, offering them a ride.

However, the situation quickly turned sinister when he drove past their destination. When the girls tried to leave, he pulled out a gun and threatened them, leaving them terrified and unable to escape.

The man took them to a secluded cornfield in Greenfield, Indiana. There, he tied up Kathie and Kandice and brutally assaulted Sheri Rottler. He also stabbed all three girls repeatedly and left them for dead. Sheri Rottler later recalled thinking:

“I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t do anything.”

Despite their severe injuries, Sheri Rottler and Kathie Rottler managed to free themselves. They crawled through the dark, bloody, and disoriented but determined to survive. They eventually reached a nearby road, where they flagged down a passing car for help. Kandice, also gravely injured, was found at the crime scene by authorities.

All three girls survived the brutal attack, but their lives were forever changed. They endured years of physical pain and emotional trauma while seeking justice.

Sheri, Kathie, and Kandice’s resilience was tested repeatedly as the case went cold, leaving them haunted by the unanswered questions about their attacker’s identity for nearly five decades.

---

Advancements in DNA technology helped the investigators in solving the case

The case was reignited in 2018 when Kathie Rottler reached out to retired Indianapolis Metro Police Sgt. David Ellison, who agreed to reopen the investigation.

Over the years, DNA evidence collected at the crime scene was reanalyzed, resulting in an unknown male profile. Despite matching all three pieces of evidence, no match was found in national databases.

In 2023, using investigative genetic genealogy, private lab DNA Labs International identified a match by working through public genealogy websites. The DNA led investigators to the children of the attacker, who provided DNA samples. Testing confirmed the identity of the suspect as Thomas Edward Williams, who had died in 1983 while serving time in Texas.

The identification brought bittersweet relief to the survivors, who had long fought for answers. At a press conference, Sheri Rottler expressed gratitude for the investigators’ persistence and urged other survivors never to lose hope in their pursuit of justice.

---

The Indiana Slasher will be available to watch on December 30, 2024, on Investigation Discovery.