INFAMOUS: The Westside Park Murders
In September of 1985, two teenagers drove into Westside Park but, tragically, never left the park alive. The police have spent decades trying to hunt down their killer.
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Westside Park sign.
Photo taken by audiochuck staff.
Aerial photo of a section of Westside Park.
Photo taken by audiochuck staff.
Westside Park and the White River.
Photo taken by audiochuck staff.
Timeline:
Saturday September 28, 1985
Saturday September 28, 1985
Ethan Dixon and Kimberly Dowell are found shot to death in the front seats of a Volkswagen Hatchback in Muncie’s Westside Park.
Westside Park, Muncie, IN
Where Ethan and Kimberly’s bodies were found.
Additional Resources:
Contact the Authorities
If you know anything about the murderers of Ethan Dixon and Kimberly Dowell, please contact the Muncie police department at 765-747-4867. You can also contact them anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 765-286-4050 or send an anonymous tip at this link.
Domestic Abuse Help
If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic abuse of any kind, you are not alone. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788 for help.
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If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- Westside Park Murders: Muncie’s Most Notorious Cold Case, by Keith Roysdon and Douglas Walker. Published February 8, 2021. https://www.amazon.com/Westside-Park-Murders-Muncies-Notorious/dp/1467144886
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Westside Park Murders: 25 years later, by Keith Roysdon and Douglas Walker. Published September 19, 2010. Updated August 5, 2014. Updated September 22, 2014. Accessed December 5, 2024. https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2014/08/05/westside-park-murders-25-years-later/13618429/
- The Sun (Vincennes, IN): Muncie students murdered, by Associated Press. Published September 30, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/438375794
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Killing of two teen-agers still puzzles police, by Joe Canan. Published September 30, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/250892868
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Probe of double slaying centers on two cars, by Joe Canan. Published October 2, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251018449
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Person believed linked to 1 victim taking polygraph, by Joe Canan. Published October 4, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251019863
- The Vincennes Sun-Commercial (Vincennes, IN): Metal detectors used to search for weapon, by Associated Press. Published October 4, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1057462995
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Man at site of Muncie teens’ slaying quizzed as suspect, Star State Report. Published October 5,1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/106381845
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Police sketch brings many tips in probe of double slaying, by Joe Canan. Published October 8, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251021904
- Anderson Daily Bulletin (Anderson, IN): Muncie police release drawing of double-shooting suspect, by Associated Press. Published October 8, 1985. Accessed December 6, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/973491443
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Witnesses will be hypnotized in attempt to solve killings, by Joe Canan. Published October 10, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251024470
- Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN): Police narrow list of double killing suspects, by Associated Press. Published October 10, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/264262293
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Killer of 2 teens was very close, tests show, by Joe Canan. Published October 11, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251025819
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): Tests show shots that killed 2 teens fired at close range, by Associated Press. Published October 12, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/312845922
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Two reported seem near park shooting scene. Published October 14, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251027361
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Nothing new learned in hypnotism or witness. Published October 15, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253174262
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Grand jury might finish investigation of murders, by Kristi Stone. Published November 8, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253144217
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Murder case almost ready for grand jury, by Diana Newlin. Published November 27, 1985. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253150646
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Westside park slayings still unsolved after a year, by Joe Canan. Published September 27, 1986. Accessed December 10, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251037519
- Muncie Evening Press (Muncie, IN): Finding bodies gave cop a horrifying perspective on mysterious slayings, by Joe Canan. Published September 28, 1990. Accessed December 10, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/250966611
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Westside Park deaths not solved and not forgotten, by Greg Maynard. Published February 22, 1993. Accessed December 11, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253713210
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Unsolved double slaying haunts Muncie police, by David J. Remondini. Published September 21, 1986. Accessed December 9, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/106206200
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Murders unsolved after a decade, by Deborah Banks. Published September 28, 1995. Accessed December 12, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/249622456
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Speculation has worn on ‘the stepfather’, by Douglas Walker and Keith Roysdon. Published September 28, 1997. Accessed December 12, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253451618
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Westside murder unsolved after 20 years, by Nick Werner. Published October 1, 2005. Accessed December 12, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253947350
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Police: New suspect in Westside Park slayings, by Keith Roysdon and Douglas Walker. Published September 20, 2014. Updated November 15, 2014. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/cold-case/2014/09/20/westside-park-murders/15897157/
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Muncie police still follow leads on Westside Park killings, by Keith Roysdon. Published January 30, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/809756566
- Muncie Parks and Recreation (Muncie, IN): The 5-Year Plan Analysis in Context of Westside Park by Samantha Turner. Published Fall 2021. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://muncieparks.com/the-5-year-plan-analysis-in-context-of-westside-park/#:~:text=Westside%20Park%20specifically%20is%20one,with%20other%20recreational%20equipment%20listed
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Other cities undertake major parks projects by Rick Yencer. Published May 30, 2004. Accessed December 2024 vis Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/253919082/
- The Star Press (Muncie, IN): Probe of killings included road trip with high hopes by Keith Roysdon and Douglas Walker. Published September 28, 1997. Accessed February 28, 2025 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/253451720/
- Obituary (Muncie, IN): Marvin E. Campbell. Published n.d. Accessed April 2025. https://www.meeksmortuary.com/obituaries/Marvin-E-Campbell?obId=38320833
- Indiana Department of Corrections (Indianapolis, IN): James Swingley. Published n.d. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.in.gov/idoc/
- Reddit (San Francisco, CA): Reddit confession. Published n.d. Accessed via Reddit December 2024. https://www.reddit.com/r/confessions/comments/1111gn2/i_know_the_person_who_possibly_committed_an/ https://www.reddit.com/r/RBI/comments/111mxpj/a_post_on_rconfession_may_have_links_to_the/ https://www.reddit.com/r/coldcases/comments/1132i5b/post_on_rconfessions_may_have_links_to_the/
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