Indiana Man Arrested in 1998 Cold Case Murder of 73-Year-Old Pontiac Resident
27 Year Cold Case Solved
Indiana Man Arrested in 1998 Cold Case Murder of 73-Year-Old Pontiac Resident
In April 1998, a quiet Pontiac neighborhood was shaken by the murder of 73-year-old Charles Barnett, a well-liked resident whose life came to a violent and unexpected end. For more than 27 years, his killing haunted detectives and remained one of Oakland County’s most stubborn unsolved cases. Now, after nearly three decades of uncertainty, investigators have finally brought forward an arrest.
Jack Anthony Young, now 45 and living in Mishawaka, Indiana, was taken into custody by federal and local authorities in mid-November 2025. Young, who was only 18 years old at the time of Barnett’s death, is now charged with felony murder in connection to the case. His arrest marks a major breakthrough for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit and closes a chapter long marked by frustration, unanswered questions, and enduring grief.
This article examines the details of the crime, the original investigation, the long period of inactivity, and the renewed push that ultimately led investigators to Young after more than a quarter century.
The Day Everything Changed: April 30, 1998
On the morning of April 30, 1998, Charles Barnett returned to his home on Corwin Street in Pontiac after running errands. According to investigators, what happened next was a tragic intersection of routine and unforeseen danger. When Barnett arrived, he encountered an intruder inside his residence. That intruder, now believed to be 18-year-old Jack Anthony Young, shot Barnett inside the home.
Following the murder, the suspect stole Barnett’s vehicle, fled the scene, and crashed the car a short time later. When officers responded to the crash and ran the vehicle information, the trail led them back to Barnett’s address. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Barnett deceased inside his home from a gunshot wound.
The initial evidence suggested the crime stemmed from a burglary gone wrong. The suspect had apparently targeted the residence, was surprised by Barnett’s return, and used deadly force before fleeing. Though investigators developed leads and collected evidence at the time, no suspect was ever charged. The case eventually went cold.
Who Was Charles Barnett?
To the community, Barnett was more than a name in a police report. He was regarded as a friendly and soft-spoken man who lived a quiet life in his Pontiac neighborhood. Friends and neighbors described him as someone who would do anything for others, someone who kept to himself but was always pleasant and approachable.
The suddenness and violence of his death stunned family members and shocked a community that could not understand how a crime so brazen could go unsolved for so long. As the years passed, Barnett’s loved ones continued to seek closure. Many feared the case would never be resolved.
The Investigation Goes Cold
In the months and years following Barnett’s murder, detectives pursued various leads. They gathered physical evidence, interviewed witnesses, and tracked potential suspects. However, the investigation lacked the technological tools and forensic advancements used in modern cold case work.
The trail eventually went silent. Witness memories faded. Evidence that once seemed promising led to dead ends. Investigators who worked the case retired or moved on to other assignments. The files were stored away, periodically revisited but never fully reinvigorated.
For nearly two decades, the case remained dormant, a painful reminder of how violent crimes can slip into the archives of unresolved tragedies.
A New Era of Cold Case Work
By 2020, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office had strengthened its Cold Case Unit, assigning experienced investigators and utilizing improved forensic methods. Former detectives and cold case specialists, including Sgt. Todd Hunt and retired Lt. Steve Troy, began combing through unresolved homicides with fresh eyes.
Barnett’s case was one of the files selected for renewed attention.
Cold case reviews often involve revisiting old physical evidence, reevaluating suspect lists, identifying investigative areas previously overlooked, and applying new forensic technologies. In Barnett’s case, detectives identified new leads and connections that had not been available in 1998.
Bit by bit, the puzzle began to shift.
Identifying a Suspect After 27 Years
During the systematic reexamination of Barnett’s case, investigators identified Jack Anthony Young as a suspect. At the time of the murder, Young was a teenager living locally. The newly reviewed evidence pointed to Young’s involvement in the break-in, shooting, and vehicle theft that occurred on April 30, 1998.
Investigators did not publicly disclose the specific evidence that led them to Young, but they emphasized the importance of persistence and the willingness to reexamine every detail in cold-case homicides. Over time, even the smallest overlooked clue can bloom into a critical breakthrough.
By 2025, detectives had gathered enough evidence to seek charges. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office authorized a felony murder count against Young.
The Arrest in Indiana
On November 17, 2025, Young was located in Mishawaka, Indiana, where he had been living. Working alongside the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, investigators arrested Young without incident.
Reports indicate that Young waived extradition, meaning he did not fight being transferred back to Michigan to face charges. He is expected to be arraigned in Oakland County, where the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.
His arrest marks the first significant development in Barnett’s case since the late 1990s.
How Investigators Solve Decades-Old Cases
Cold case arrests of this magnitude do not happen by accident. They are the result of methodical review, technological advancements, and an unwavering commitment from law enforcement.
Key factors that contributed to this breakthrough include:
1. Evidence Preservation
The ability to preserve physical evidence for decades is essential. Items that may not have been testable in 1998 could become vital decades later when new forensic technology emerges.
2. Modern Forensic Techniques
Although authorities did not specify whether DNA played a role, it is common in renewed cold case investigations for DNA analysis, fingerprint enhancements, or digital forensic techniques to illuminate previously untestable evidence.
3. Dedicated Cold Case Personnel
Having a specialized team dedicated solely to reviewing unsolved homicides ensures these cases no longer fade into the background.
4. Cross-state Collaboration
Young’s arrest involved cooperation across state lines, a necessity for cold case arrests when suspects have relocated.
5. Institutional Memory
Retired investigators like Lt. Steve Troy continued to contribute insights and institutional knowledge, which can be invaluable in understanding old case files.
The combination of these factors ultimately opened the door to the arrest in Barnett’s murder.
Statements from Law Enforcement
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that they never give up on victims or their families. Detectives noted that every cold case is personal, and every unsolved homicide represents a life cut short with loved ones left without closure.
Sheriff officials said that resolving Barnett’s murder was a priority and that reviewing the case was part of a broader initiative to bring justice to families who have waited decades for answers.
Investigators also highlighted the importance of community support, noting that cold case breakthroughs often require new witness cooperation, updated information, or renewed tips.
The Charge: Felony Murder
Young now faces one count of felony murder. Under Michigan law, felony murder applies when someone dies during the commission of certain felonies, including burglary, home invasion, or robbery.
Prosecutors allege that Young entered Barnett’s home intending to commit a felony and that Barnett was killed as a result of that criminal act. The fact that Barnett’s vehicle was stolen and crashed further supports the felony-murder theory.
If convicted, Young faces a possible life sentence.
What Comes Next in the Case
With extradition waived, Young will return to Michigan for arraignment. After that, his case will move through the judicial process, including preliminaries, possible plea negotiations, and trial proceedings if he does not enter a plea.
For Barnett’s family and loved ones, this moment represents a long-awaited step toward justice. Many of them have lived through decades of uncertainty, wondering whether they would ever see someone held accountable.
The next phase of the case will determine how the legal system addresses the events of that April morning in 1998.
A Cold Case Finally Breaks
Cold cases notoriously test patience, persistence, and faith. For more than 27 years, Charles Barnett’s murder stood as a grim reminder of both a violent crime and the limitations of past investigative resources.
Now, with Young’s arrest, new hope has emerged.
The case illustrates the power of modern cold case work and the determination of investigators who refuse to let difficult cases slip away. For Barnett’s family, the community of Pontiac, and those who have followed this case across Michigan, the recent arrest brings long-delayed progress toward justice.
Though a conviction has not yet been secured, the fact that someone has finally been charged after more than two decades is itself a milestone. It is a testament to how deeply the justice system values closure, accountability, and the memory of victims whose stories remain unfinished until the truth is uncovered.
The arrest of Jack Anthony Young shows that no matter how many years have passed, justice can still move forward. And for the family of Charles Barnett, that movement may finally offer the answers they have waited nearly thirty years to receive.