Police, community still searching for answers in Springfield cold case murder

The community is still actively searching for answers in the 2015 case of a Springfield mom killed in cold blood.

Clark County Prosecutor Dan Driscoll posted on the prosecutor’s office page Wednesday night, asking anyone with information about the murder of Candance Prunty to come forward.

Police have had a person of interest in the case, but Springfield Police Division Det. Ron Jordan said that person has been uncooperative, and he thinks more people know something that could lead to an arrest in the case.

“Sometimes you think a case may be at a standstill and then out of the blue — something can change that,” Jordan said. “There’s three young boys out there that will never see their mother again, and I don’t think that’s right. I think it’s unfair to her kids and her family — and her too.”

2015 report: Police investigating mother’s death as homicide

Prunty, 26, was shot and killed at her house on West Mulberry Street in Oct. 2015. Family members found her on the kitchen floor after she didn’t show up to get her kids from school.

Prunty’s sons were 1, 4 and 7 at the time of her murder.

To this day, it’s still difficult for Prunty’s mom, Patricia Beard, to talk about her daughter in the past tense or think about the ‘good times’ without thoughts of Prunty’s murder creeping in.

“It’s been a horrific journey and it still is and then not knowing,” she said. “Not knowing what took place in that house that day.”

Even though the memories are painful, Beard said she’s been encouraged by how much work is being done to keep her daughter’s name at the forefront of people’s minds — like it is for her every day.

“They’re still talking about it, they posted something on Facebook — it is like overwhelming gladness,” she said.

In 2018, police and the prosecutor’s office took out billboards seeking information relating to several cold cases.

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Prunty’s was located above the Spring Street overpass in downtown Springfield.

Driscoll said he and Springfield police only need a couple more pieces to fall into place in this case.

“We have a case that we believe is solvable,” he said.

Beard said she’s been in close communication with Det. Jordan since the murder — but she’d like nothing more than to finally close this case and bring someone to justice.

“Oh my goodness… I can’t even put it into words,” she said through a smile. “I’ve been waiting for that phone call from Detective Jordan.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Springfield police at 937-324-7680. Tips can be made anonymously.

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