"Shame on you," says victim's sister

WHITLEY COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - Karen Caprioni had some heated words to say to her ex-brother-in-law as he made his way out of a Northeast Indiana courtroom, Monday.

"Shame, shame on you," said Caprioni to murder suspect, Rodney Houser.

Houser made his first appearance in Whitley County court, Monday.  He's being held without bond, accused of murdering his ex-wife, Debra Houser.

Houser spoke with NewsChannel 15 on his way into the courtroom. His only comment was that he loves his 9-year old son, Garrett. Houser pleaded guilty to battering his young son in 2004. He was sentenced to a year and half in prison.

Houser was appointed a public defender.  His next court date is set for December 21.

Search teams still have not found Debra Houser's body. Friends of Rod Houser say that's because the search effort is focused in the wrong place. Rod Houser lived for years on Lake Everett in Western Allen County and friends say he knows it like the back of his hand. Houser has never lived in Whitley County, except for recently with his ex-wife and their son.

Whitley County Sheriff Mark Hodges said Monday, teams have searched the Lake Everett area.

"An extensive search was made up there on foot, with 4-wheelers and at least one dog," said Hodges. The Department of Natural Resources, which is assisting the Whitley County Sheriff's Department on the investigation, has not searched below the surface of Lake Everett. While DNR officials have used sonar equipment, and dragging techniques on two Whitley County lakes (Goose Lake, and Larwell Lake), they have not done so on Lake Everett.

Detectives are regrouping after taking a break in the search Sunday. Hodges said the team would reevaluate what areas they need to re-search, and which tips they should look into next. Hodges said in an emailed released late Monday that the foot search for Debra was suspended, but he was organizing cadaver dogs to continue searching either Tuesday or Wednesday.

"We still may be passing right over where she could be," said Hodges on Monday. "We just ask that family, and friends be patient with us."

Caprioni thanked the police, and volunteers for their efforts. Her sentiments were echoed by Deb Houser's grown daughter, Amber Abbott.

"If you don't have closure, you can't go any further," said Caprioni from the Whitley County Courthouse lawn. "Without [Deb] being home, I'm just more mad and frustrated than I am anything else. That's what keeps me going."

Deb Houser went missing Wednesday. Friday, her ex-husband, Rodney Houser, was charged with her murder.

Police said he killed Debra and hid her body near their home on Old West Trail in rural Whitley County. The evidence against Rod Houser stems largely from information surrendered to police by a would-be accomplice. The confidential informant said he went to police when Houser asked the informant to help bury Deb's body.

The informant told police Houser said he'd hidden Deb's body in a temporary spot near the Houser home. Cadaver dogs and a blood hound were covered a five-mile radius around the Houser home, along with police and volunteers.

Hodges says Rod Houser has been uncooperative. The day he was arrested, Houser treated the interrogation like a game, according to the sheriff.

"Time could change that," said Hodges, who called Houser arrogant, and smug.