Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Liscia Willis (DOB 7/21/70) for the murder of her father, retired Cincinnati Police Officer, James Lee (“Skip”) Dunlap.  Willis is now charged with 1 count of Aggravated Murder (Special Felony), 1 count of Murder (Special Felony) and 1 count of Tampering with Evidence (Felony 3).  If convicted of all charges, she faces the possibility of life in prison without parole.

The Forest Park Police Department was called to the home of Skip Dunlap late on the evening of December 20th to perform a wellness check.  Mr. Dunlap’s wife, who was out of town visiting relatives, became concerned when she was not able to contact her husband.  After multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach him, she called the police and asked them to go to her home and check on her husband.

When the police arrived at the home close to midnight on December 20th, they were met at the door by defendant Liscia Willis.  Willis is Mr. Dunlap’s daughter and Mrs. Willis’ step-daughter.  Willis was in the home with her girlfriend and her girlfriend’s two teenage children.

The police obtained permission from Mrs. Dunlap to search the home.  The police discovered blood in the front hallway, kitchen and on the steps leading to the basement.  Mr. Dunlap was found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs covered in blankets.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s preliminary report ruled Mr. Dunlap’s death a homicide as the result of hemorrhagic shock due to a stab wound of the neck with perforation of the left carotid artery.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters commented, “This is such a sad case.

Skip Dunlap was a long-time well respected Cincinnati Police Officer.  It is hard to understand that he could retire from a dangerous job without injury only to be killed by a family member.”