12/12/13 A prayer vigil was held Wednesday evening on the Marshall County Court House lawn for an 11 year old Argos girl who was murdered 27 years ago.
On December 11, 1986, Brandie Peltz was at home alone sick from school. When emergency responders were dispatched to the home for a fire they found the girl in the bathtub. It was determined that she had been strangled. Police believe the farmhouse was set on fire to cover up the murder.
After author, Thomas Crowell, wrote a book about the crime the Indiana State Police opened the cold case file in 2009 with Detective Thomas Littlefield reviewing the evidence, hoping the find info that could lead to an arrest or spark someone’s memory to help solve the crime. .
Last night, a group of citizens and members of a youth group from Church of the Heartland gathered on the courthouse lawn to remember Brandie with a candlelight vigil. Although none of them knew the girl and many weren’t even alive when this tragic incident happened, they wanted to keep her memory alive.
Pastor Jim Irwin opened the vigil with a prayer and Chris Miller, youth group leader with the Church of the Heartland also prayer for Brandie and the young people attending. Local musician, Joey Garcia wrote a song especially for Wednesday night’s vigil.
Anyone with information on this crime should call the Indiana State Police at 1-800-552-2959. Police say even details from Dec. 11, 1986 that seem insignificant could help solve the crime.
