Dying Man Offered Deal In Missing Woman Case

INDIANAPOLIS -- An ailing suspect in the disappearance of a Greenwood woman was offered a deal in an effort to get answers before he dies of cancer, but he insists he has nothing to say, RTV6's Ben Morriston reported.

Video

Answers Sought From Ailing Suspect In Woman's Disappearance

Joseph Nowicki, 53, of Greenwood, was arrested in 2002 on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. His trial on that charge was scheduled to begin Tuesday, but it was postponed because of what his lawyer says is a terminal illness.

In July, Greenwood police named Nowicki a suspect in the disappearance of Brookley Louks, who was 19 when she was reported missing in June. Nowicki has not been charged in that case.

Authorities have offered Nowicki some sort of deal in which he would tell them where Brookley is before he died, but Nowicki -- who has denied involvement in the disappearance -- says he doesn't have any answers, according to defense attorney Jay Hoffman. Details about the deal were not available.

"Joe has indicated to me that if he knew something about it, he'd think that would be helpful, but he doesn't know anything about it," Hoffman said.

Hoffman said doctors have indicated Nowicki has about six months to live.

"His doctors have given the federal court system ample evidence by way of medical narrative that he's dying," Hoffman said.

Louks (pictured, right) was reported missing June 24. Police found her car in a restaurant parking lot in Waverly a few days afterward.

Police in September said drops of what they believed to be Brookley Louks' blood were found in Nowicki's home. The blood was found during a search of the property July 17, police said.

Nowicki was an acquaintance of Louks and her family, authorities have said.

Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said investigators don't yet have strong evidence that can close the case.

"But that's not unusual, and it's not a reason to think the case won't be solved," Hamner said.

Nowicki is being held without bail in a federal prison on the firearms possessions charge. Nowicki has prior convictions for aggravated assault and battery, second-degree murder and robbery and is prohibited from possessing guns.