On February 21, 2012, 22-year-old Shawnna Marie Rose Forgus was found deceased inside her family’s home in Valparaiso, Indiana. Police were called to the residence that morning after Shawnna’s 5-year-old son went to wake her and discovered her unresponsive in bed. Investigators treated the death as a homicide, and early reporting noted visible trauma to her neck and face. An initial autopsy indicated the injuries were consistent with strangulation, with additional testing pending at the time. Shawnna was a mother of two and, according to reporting, lived in the home with family members. Friends also shared that she had been out at a local bar the night before and was reportedly seen leaving with a male companion—information that underscored the urgency for anyone who saw Shawnna that night or had contact with her to come forward.

Anyone with information concerning Shawnna Forgus' unsolved homicide are asked to call the Valparaiso Police Department at (219) 462-2135. To remain anonymous and possibly eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

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