Missing Indiana Girl Found Dead

Convicted Child Killer Who Worked With Girl Arrested In Her Death

(AP)  A convicted child murderer who was paroled in March faces murder charges in the death of a 16-year-old girl, whose body was found the day after the two left a restaurant where they worked, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Investigators found the body of Stephanie Wagner in a northwestern Indiana field Wednesday night. The suspect, Danny R. Rouse, 51, a dishwasher at the restaurant where Wagner was a waitress, told them where to look and confessed to killing her, police said.

Rouse was arrested and held without bond. Sheriff's Detective Tom Wallace testified at a probable cause hearing Thursday that Rouse admitted strangling Wagner and then stabbing her.

Prosecutor Kevin Enyeart said he expected to charge Rouse with murder later Thursday. The court hearing was to continue Friday.

Rouse and Wagner left the Indian Head Restaurant, where they both worked, at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Her mother reported her missing about six hours later.

Her body was found Wednesday night about a mile from where police discovered her abandoned car in her hometown of Royal Center, about 50 miles southwest of South Bend.

Police took Rouse in for questioning when he showed up for work Wednesday. He told deputies he was driving along a highway when his vehicle began making funny sounds. He pulled over and Wagner stopped to see if she could help, Wallace said. That is when "a feeling came over him," he told police.

Rouse had been working at the Indian Head Restaurant for about two weeks, co-owner Heidi Fitousis said. She said she had no idea of Rouse's criminal past when he was hired.

"(We) don't normally do a background check, not for a dishwasher," she said Thursday.

Rouse was released from prison in March after serving more than 26 years for murdering a 5-year-old Kansas boy in 1979. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of Jason Learst at a Wichita, Kan., apartment, The Wichita Eagle reported Thursday. Rouse also was convicted of stabbing the boy's mother.

Fitousis described Wagner, who had worked at the restaurant for about a month, as shy and quiet.

"I can't believe it, I don't believe it yet," she said.

Wagner withdrew from high school last year and was being home-schooled, her friend Megan Mannies said Wednesday. Wagner had been pursuing a high school diploma and enjoyed her job at the restaurant, Mannies said.

"She is funny," Mannies said. "She's hilarious. She's my best friend in the whole world."

[cbailey27]

This guy spent 26 years in prison for murdering a young boy and gets out on parole and does it again!!??!! How can they justify letting someone like him out? I don't understand how these folks can get away with things like this. Sending him back to prison isn't good enough.

[ppdds]

Why do they keep letting them out? I rips me up everytime this happens. My question is so rhetorical...

[tibu987]

This happens all too frequently, where a convicted murderer or child molester is let out of confinement only to commit another horrific crime. The laws need to be changed. Where are our legislators on these issues? Perhaps, because this sort of crime happens to poor, and minority people, the law is of no concern to them,I hope that I am wrong.
But, folks, let's look at the existing laws again and change them when possible to prevent these sorts of maniacal killings. Nobody wants these sort of people walking our streets looking for new victims. "It's a jungle out there".

[chicabear1]

This is so disgusting! There are so many innocent victims because of these career criminals. These hard core, worthless excuses of human beings don't deserve to suck down oxygen and exist in our society. The legal system is so flawed to allow these sh*t bags out of prison so they can take another human beings life. And, I'm convinced these kinds of crimes will continue to occur. We definitely need an overhaul in the system to protect society from bast*rds like this! And so many people speak out against capital punishment, but in cases like this,I just don't see how these vicious criminals deserve to live??! I wonder what parole board let this criminal out of prison in the first place!

[afghanvet]

The state of Kansas should be ashamed for imposing such an insufficient penalty.

[gmond]

Paroled after murdering a child and stabbing his mother. Did anyone really think this guy was rehabilitated? Just because someone functions well in a closed, regimented society, it does not mean they can function in the real world. This guy should have gotten the death penalty or life without parole 26 years ago, what possible mitigating circumstances could there be for murdering a five year old child?

I think all states should pass laws to have life terms for ALL child murderers and child molesters.

Our children need more protection now more than ever!

[dmorg4]

Could somebody tell me why on earth would anyone
who murdered a child be freed from prison
i think we should call for the firing of those
responsible for letting this person out to kill again.

[ajmystic]

Apparently Kansas does not have a death penalty. That is what this man deserved for killing a 5 year old boy. I only hope that the jury here in Indiana will correct Kansas' mistake and put this man to death. He said "a feeling came over him". So he must have had mental problems for many years. Obviously they were not addressed during his time in prison, so he should not be afforded the luxury of possible parole once he is sentenced in this case. Since this is the second child he has murdered, I think he should get the death penalty with no appeal.

[rharrin1]

Put the people that paroled him in jail

[foranc]

Any convicted felon who is not given the death sentence will eventually be released, period, no matter how horrible the crime. This monster is proof that the death penalty should be imposed. Some would say the death penalty is not a deterant. If this MONSTER had been put to death by the state for his FIRST CHILD MURDER, he could NOT have committed this second child murder. How much more deterant do you need?

[garrison777-2009]

Our culture is sick to support murderers with a roof over their head, medical care, two hots, and a cot--all at tax payer expense. Arrest, conviction (with no reasonable doubt), opportunity for the criminal to make peace with God, followed by swift and public execution should be the norm for murderers. Other dangerous criminals should remain incarcerated until they have done their time and until the parole board deems this person safe in our society. Those with the authority to put criminals back on the streets should have their residence next to the half-way house. If they are concerned about that kind of person living next to them and their children then they should leave that criminal locked up, not inflict him/her on the rest of us.

[garrison777-2009]

Our culture is sick to support murderers with a roof over their head, medical care, two hots, and a cot--all at tax payer expense. Arrest, conviction (with no reasonable doubt), opportunity for the criminal to make peace with God, followed by swift and public execution should be the norm for murderers. Other dangerous criminals should remain incarcerated until they have done their time and until the parole board deems this person safe in our society. Those with the authority to put criminals back on the streets should have their residence next to the half-way house. If they are concerned about that kind of person living next to them and their children then they should leave that criminal locked up, not inflict him/her on the rest of us.

[karen091866]

Apparently the State of Kansas doesn't do any type of psychological evaluations before handing out release papers.
Once the inmates he'll be returning to live with get wind of his current offense, they'll handle things--with nice big ol' can of chili from the commissary...wrapped up tightly in a sock.

[lisann326]

It is apparent over and over again that prison does not rehabilitate people. These people need counseling in addition to their normal activities. They need to study about their condition and use conflict analysis and resolution. There doesn't seem to be any resolution. Society doesn't accept them when they integrate back into it and therefore ex convicts devalue themselves and go right back into their former behavior which never was analyzed to begin with. Hence, the vicious cycle.

[lisann326]

It is apparent over and over again that prison does not rehabilitate people. These people need counseling in addition to their normal activities. They need to study about their condition and use conflict analysis and resolution. There doesn't seem to be any resolution. Society doesn't accept them when they integrate back into it and therefore ex convicts devalue themselves and go right back into their former behavior which never was analyzed to begin with. Hence, the vicious cycle.

[lisann326]

It is apparent over and over again that prison does not rehabilitate people. These people need counseling in addition to their normal activities. They need to study about their condition and use conflict analysis and resolution. There doesn't seem to be any resolution. Society doesn't accept them when they integrate back into it and therefore ex convicts devalue themselves and go right back into their former behavior which never was analyzed to begin with. Hence, the vicious cycle.

[lisann326]

It is apparent over and over again that prison does not rehabilitate people. These people need counseling in addition to their normal activities. They need to study about their condition and use conflict analysis and resolution. There doesn't seem to be any resolution. Society doesn't accept them when they integrate back into it and therefore ex convicts devalue themselves and go right back into their former behavior which never was analyzed to begin with. Hence, the vicious cycle.

[lisann326]

It is apparent over and over again that prison does not rehabilitate people. These people need counseling in addition to their normal activities. They need to study about their condition and use conflict analysis and resolution. There doesn't seem to be any resolution. Society doesn't accept them when they integrate back into it and therefore ex convicts devalue themselves and go right back into their former behavior which never was analyzed to begin with. Hence, the vicious cycle.

[rradinoga]

The old saying "an eye for and eye and a life for a life" is still the best deterrant for crime of any shape and form. The death penalty is the answer as this will weed out repeat offenders as a first price and stop impulse muders long enough to let the feeling pass. Unfortunately premeditated murders will still happen but at a reduced rate per annum.

[wendyhoo-2009]

This man should have never been able to walk outside a prison after killing a 5 year old boy. Does anyone in the justice system have any guilt for this I HOPE SO ... Because if you had sentenced him to death he wouldn't have killed yet another young life that doesn't have the chance to grow and become his/her dreams. There is no good reason to have this man alive he should have been put to rest the last time I hope they do it this time. Sad world we live in to have a man walking our streets after 26 years for killing a 5 year old only to do it again to a 10 year old. I am sick to my stomach.

[wendyhoo-2009]

sorry let me correct that a 16 year old girl

[o2jessica]

Why on earth was this man let out of jail? There is something seriously wrong with our justice system!

[cacee13601]

i agree.. why was he given another chance to be free and kill again??