A partial fingerprint and cellphone analysis led to the arrest and conviction of a Fort Wayne man for murder and other charges related to the 2017 fatal stabbings.
Dustin Neal, 35 was charged Friday on two counts each of murder and felony murder in the June 2017 killings of Bryan Lash (29 years) and Noele Trice (25)
Fort Wayne Police Department
Court documents stated that the couple were found dead after hosting a party at which Neal was present.
An FBI agent and police conducted an October analysis of Neal’s phone. It showed that it pinged near the victims’ house on the morning of the murders. This was despite Neal’s claim that he hadn’t returned to the home since leaving the party.
Neal was also referred to by investigators after a partial print was found on Trice’s cellphone, according to documents.
In October, a new witness testified to police that Neal bristled about his murders. He claimed that he had broken into the home of the couple to steal marijuana but Lash had woken up during the burglary.
WANE-TV, CBS affiliate, reported that Neal allegedly said to a witness that both victims were stabbed and that “I stabbed them in the face so much the knife got stuck.”
Another witness asked Neal about the murders. Neal initially declined to respond, but he later said, “I have five corpses under me,” the station reported, citing court papers.
Court documents do not show Neal’s attorney, who could comment on the allegations against Neal.
“We are obviously very happy that we were able bring a closure to this case with Dustin Neal’s arrest,” Detective Brian Martin stated to WANE-TV.
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