Cara Abell and Angela Houston:1994, Petersburg, Indiana

 







   In an apartment above the Silver Dollar Saloon in Petersburg, a fire was set on September 11th, 1994. This was years before THE  9/11. That date did not carry the tragic memories and connotations that it does now. But 9/11/1994 was incredibly tragic for two Petersburg families. 

Downtown Petersburg, Indiana



  Firefighters found two bodies within the burned apartment. Twenty three year old Angela Houston and five year old Cara Michelle Abell had died in the fire. Both died of smoke inhalation. 


   Fairly quickly it was found that the fire had been deliberately set. Why would someone want to kill Angela Houston and little Cara Abell? 


   A suspect was questioned. There was an article in the newspapers at the time about a local man who was allegedly jealous and wanted revenge. Ronald W. Flener thought his girlfriend had been too friendly with some other man who lived in that building, Howard Martin. Mr. Martin rented the front apartment. But, the Abell family rented the back apartment. 

   

  A fire WAS deliberately set by someone that night. All the other members of the Abell family were injured but escaped the building. Cara had siblings who were injured but survived. But, Angela Houston and Cara Abell perished from asphyxiation within the burning building. 

  

   Ronald W. Flener was investigated but never prosecuted for the crime. Flener had some minor run-ins with the law in the years after that mostly having to do with motor vehicle violations. He and his wife divorced. He was sued by his car insurance company and lost. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky and then also further south. He lives in a warm Southern state now, it appears.

   

    Who killed Cara and Angela? 


    Both Angela Houston and Cara Abell are buried at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Petersburg, Indiana. Both have pink granite heart shaped headstones although their graves are not side by side. I visited there in November of 2025.  The beautiful Autumn leaves had mostly fallen from the trees. But, even then it was still a very scenic place. It’s a lovely cemetery of rolling hills. Huge old trees loom over the graves. Old gravestones are there from the 1800’s to the current year. It is lovingly tended. 



   Is there any evidence from that night that can still be tested? Surely, with modern technology…something can be tested and the perpetrator or perpetrators can be prosecuted. 


   Perhaps people have talked over the years. Maybe someone knows something about the fire that killed Angela and little Cara. Maybe they felt loyal to someone. Maybe they felt afraid of that person. Sometimes time gives us a different perspective. 


   Cara’s siblings have grown up without her. Angela’s friends and family have missed her all these years. 


   If you have information about the murder of Angela Houston and Cara Abell please call the Indiana State Police at (812) 867-2079 or (800) 852-3970.



Rest In Peace CARA AND ANGELA. 


Shareable YouTube Video about Angela and Cara’s Cold Case: 


https://youtu.be/opgvlcaT7JQ?si=C6ke85i7puU-akus



   


   


   


   



   

  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Laurie Jo Lopez and Gerald E. Bunche III: 1975, Gary

Image
    On the evening of April 6th, 1975, two teenagers went on a date. The eighteen year olds were Laurie and Gerald. They borrowed Laurie’s Mom’s car.  It should have been a fun night out. But, the two teens never made it home.    Laurie Jo Lopez graduated from Kankakee Valley High. She lived southeast of Gary, Indiana at 10 Windsor Drive, outside of Demotte, Indiana.    Gerald Ellsworth Bunche III was born on January 3rd 1957. He went to Lew Wallace High in Gary and lived at 1145 Whitcomb Street. He was the son of Erdell and Gerald Bunche Jr.  He was an active highschool kid. He played basketball and was pretty good.    Laurie Lopez was the daughter of Frank Lopez. Her mother’s name is not known to me. (Her mother is not listed on her death certificate and I was unable to find any information about Laurie’s Mom or possible siblings.) Laurie’s stepfather was Sgt. James E. Rodriguez.    I usually am ab...
Read more

Donna Marie Lanier: 1984: North Liberty, Indiana

Image
   Donna Marie Husband was born on March 11th, 1956 in South Bend, Indiana. She was the daughter of Eloise and Joseph Husband. She grew up in South Bend and married a man named Lanier. (I was unable to find his full name.)    She was 28 in 1984.  Her life had been a difficult one. Her mother had been killed in the years before.  The man suspected of that crime was later murdered as well. Donna and her children lost everything but their lives in a fire in 1979. Still, she kept going.     Donna had four children. Three were still living at home in 1984. It is not easy to make a living as a single mother.  If your kids get sick you have to be home with them. They never get sick all at the same time. Children have school breaks and snow days but most jobs do not. It’s impossible to find a workplace that will be flexible like that. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. If you have ever been poor then you know.  ...
Read more