Cold case: Reward offered in 2003 murder

Denise Reedy is reaching out to the public for information regarding her father, Dennis Foster’s, murder six years ago in Paris Crossing, and is offering a reward as well.

“I’m trying to reach anyone that could help,” Reedy said. “Daddy was sick with cancer, so I really feel like the person who did this had no conscience whatsoever. He is still out there, he is still free, he’s dangerous.”

According to a press release from the Indiana State Police, on Aug. 22, 2003, police were called to Foster’s residence at 7835 S. 925W, Paris Crossing, in Jennings County. A neighbor had stopped at Foster’s residence to check on his welfare and as the neighbor looked through the door, he saw Foster lying on the floor. The neighbor immediately called police. After police arrived at Foster’s residence, they found him murdered. Autopsy results showed Foster died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Foster was last seen on Aug. 19, 2003, at his residence.

The Foster family is offering a $5,000 reward and the Kentuckiana Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the responsible person or persons in Foster’s murder.

“I’m offering this reward to see if it will persuade someone to come forward with information or jog someone’s memory,” Reedy said.

The Indiana State Police is confident that this new reward offer will help refresh someone’s memory on this crime, the press release stated.

Reedy said when something like her father’s murder happens, it not only hurts the victim but the family as well.

“When I go to bed at night and when I wake up in the morning, it’s what I think about,” Reedy said.

Reaching out to the community for help, Reedy said she wants justice for her father as well as her family so they won’t have to relive what happened on a daily basis.

Foster was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in December of 2002. He was 54 years of age at the time of his death, according to the release.

Foster lived in a two-story log cabin on several wooded acres with a small pond and was a passionate outdoorsman, the release stated. Friends described Foster as a good-hearted man who was always ready to assist those in need. He had a small engine repair shop on his property where he enjoyed working on other people’s lawn mowers and tractors. Neighbors and friends made conscious efforts to check on Foster regularly.

While processing the crime scene, police discovered that several guns and other items were stolen from the residence, the release stated. Police are still trying to locate those items.

“I need closure; it’s hard to live with this every day. Part of my life stopped six years and it’s not going to move forward until I find justice,” Reedy said.

Anyone with information may contact Kentuckiana Crime Stoppers at (502) 582-2583. All calls can be made collect for long-distance callers and as always, all callers can remain anonymous. Callers may also contact Detective Jerry Gentry of the Indiana State Police Post at Seymour at (812) 522-1441.