It's a crime that's torn apart a family and a small southern Indiana town.  The man accused of killing his 15-year-old stepdaughter faced a judge Wednesday.

Dressed in blue jeans and a green t-shirt, 32-year-old Ryan Shelby would not answer the one question many in the small town of Rockport are asking -- did he murder his stepdaughter, Alexis Oesterle?

Alexis's friends and family shared hugs and tears after coming face-to-face with the man police say killed their friend.  They all gathered in court Thursday morning as Judge Jon Dardt officially charged Shelby with murder. 

One of Alexis's friends, Janine Nieves, said Thursday, "She always complained about him being mean, I didn't want to believe it."  Nieves says it was no secret that Alexis and her stepdad had a troubled relationship.  Alexis's grandfather, who lives in Ohio, says Alexis's mother was considering divorcing Shelby. "She always called her stepfather Dad, and we're all trying to figure out how he could do this to her."

The first sign of real trouble came Monday night when Indiana State Police say Shelby called the Spencer County Sheriff's Department to find out if Alexis had been arrested, because the family had not seen her since the night before.  That's when deputies began their investigation.

Dan Wilkerson, Spencer Co. Prosecutor, says, "Specifically, Deputy Jason Dunsworth from the Sheriff's Department -- it was due to his extra steps investigating around the residence that the body was discovered.  Had he not done that, probably the body would have been disposed of and not discovered for a length of time after that."

An autopsy performed in Louisville reveals Alexis died from the loss of blood due to a wound on her neck -- a reality her friends don't want to face.  As Nieves puts it, "It hasn't really hit us yet, I think its going to hit us on her funeral."

Alexis's mother was in court, but she did not talk about the case outside the courtoom.

Shelby is being held without bond.  He could face up to 65 years in prison if found guilty.