Two men are facing murder charges in Indiana, where they are accused of killing another man who was reported missing by his wife more than 44 years ago.
Donald Wasserman’s wife told police that Wasserman, who lived in Mishawaka, disappeared after he met with one of the men now accused of killing him, Robert L. Sage, according to the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Wasserman’s meeting with Sage was said to have taken place on August 16, 1981.
The next day, Wasserman’s car was found without him inside in Elkhart County, the attorney’s office said in a Thursday, April 9, news release
Several days passed until Wasserman was discovered dead “on an embankment near the Toll Road overpass and County Road 131 in Elkhart County,” according to prosecutors.
Investigators determined Wasserman was killed and had died of blunt force injuries related to fractures to his skull, the attorney’s office said.
Now, Sage, and another man, Daniel Martin, have been arrested in Wasserman’s death, prosecutors announced.
Sage, 76, was taken into custody in Florida, where he lives in Ocala, on March 30, according to the attorney’s office. Martin, 71, was apprehended in Elkhart, Indiana, where he lives, on March 27.
Court records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping did not indicate whether Sage or Martin had retained legal representation.
The case of Wasserman’s killing remained cold until an Elkhart County Homicide Unit launched a renewed investigation in 2024, according to the attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said Martin was interviewed again “and provided numerous additional facts and details that were corroborated by independent investigative efforts and evidence uncovered through those efforts.”
Police had previously interviewed Martin and Sage, who both confirmed that they had been with him the day he was reported missing, WSBT reported.
According to court filings obtained by the TV station, Martin told investigators that he was involved in Wasserman’s killing after Sage asked him for help decades ago.
Martin told authorities that Wasserman had allegedly sold Sage drugs and owed money to Sage, the TV station reported, citing court documents.
Sage admitted to investigators that during an encounter involving the three men, Sage had Martin hold Wasserman at gunpoint while Sage beat Wasserman, using a hammer to strike his head, according to the court filings viewed by the TV station.
Martin appeared in court for an initial hearing on April 9, records show. His jury trial has been scheduled for July 7.
It was not immediately clear when Sage was due to appear in court.
