Suspect In Case Of Missing Greenwood Woman Dies

INDIANAPOLIS -- A suspect in the 2002 disappearance of a Greenwood woman died Friday, according to his attorney, Jay Hoffman.

Video

Attorney: 'Don't Know Yet' Whether Nowicki Left Info About Case

Joseph Nowicki, 54, of Johnson County, was named a suspect but was never charged in the disappearance of Brookley Louks. Nowicki (pictured, left) was battling cancer and recently was in federal custody on a firearms charge, but a judge released him this summer so he could die at home.

Nowicki was taken to a Methodist Hospital hospice center Thursday night as his condition deteriorated, RTV6's Ben Morriston reported. Nowicki died around 1:10 p.m. Friday, Hoffman said.

Louks was 19 when she was reported missing June 24, 2002, and has not been seen since. Authorities believe she is dead.

Police in September said drops of what they believed to be Louks' blood were found on Nowicki's property. The blood was found during a search July 17, 2002, police said.

Louks (pictured, right) used to do errands for Nowicki, who was a friend of her father. Nowicki denied involvement in the disappearance.

Greenwood police, knowing Nowicki had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, had hoped he would give them information about the disappearance before he died.

Morriston on Friday asked Hoffman whether Nowicki left anything that could help the probe.

"We don't know yet," Hoffman answered.