This photo was taken on May 7, 1987, when investigators revealed the facts of Barbara Hulley’s murder and the confession of Robert Hootman, who was charged and found guilty of the murder. Shown on Ron Robinson, county sheriff; Tom Kitch, county detective; Mike Miner, county prosecuting attorney; and Mel Keplinger, state police detective. (The Mail-Journal Files)

Twenty-nine years ago, on North Street in Syracuse, a woman was found lying on the floor, dead for more than a day with at least nine slashes to her throat and neck. It took over two years, 500 interviews and hundreds of days of anguish to figure out who killed Barbara Hulley on Sept. 21, 1984. The police, however, needn’t have looked any further than right outside her front door.

Robert Earl Hootman was 17 when he broke into his neighbor’s small apartment while she was away. The intent was to find some items of value and leave, but his crime was interrupted. When Hulley walked in on her home being robbed, it is unclear exactly what actions she took. According to newspaper accounts, Hulley struggled with Hootman and eventually fainted. Police called it “a senseless crime,” because Hootman would have been in minimal trouble for just the break-in, but instead slashed her neck over and over again.

Hootman was 20 years old when he went to jail on a charge of misdemeanor conversion, but it was his contradictory statements that led to his two murder charges – felony murder and murder. After several months of questioning, a polygraph test, a voice stress test and taking Hootman to the scene of the crime, he confessed to the murder of Hulley. Nine years after being charged, Hootman fought to reverse the charge, citing a forced confession. His case did not make it much further than filing the claim.

Hootman was sentenced on Dec. 31, 1987, to 60 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. He was sentenced through Kosciusko County Circuit Court. According to the Indiana Department of Correction Inmate Locator, his projected release date was Nov. 4, 2015. He was then sent to the South Bend Community Re-Entry Center.

In Indiana inmates are given one day good time credit for each day served. Thus, Hootman’s 60 year sentence resulted in a total of 30 years.

Hootman was recently released from prison and  will spend the next several months at the South Bend Community Re-Entry Center, in the final stages of completing almost 28 years behind bars.

The center’s superintendent, Charles Bowen, offered insight as to how Hootman will enter into the community again after so many years behind bars. “We try to get these guys ready for the community,” said Bowen. In order to enter into this facility, inmates must have less than two years left to serve. For inmates who will be released in under 12 months, they have the option to choose a job path that fits their skills. Bowen advised inmates look through job postings and have the assistance of officers when searching for jobs.

Hootman arrived at the South Bend Community Re-Entry Center Dec. 30, 2014, and is projected to be released Nov. 4 this year. The center has a capacity of 172, and usually hovers at about 160 residents. Bowen noted their program keeps a 92 percent employment rate, comparable to what the outside world sees. Hootman, Bowen advises, may be spending his time working and looking for apartments or houses as his release date approaches.

It is unclear what the future holds for Hootman, and Bowen was unable to provide any record of Hootman’s progress with his organization. The victim’s family has declined comment on Hootman’s upcoming release.