Summary: Authorities in the state of Indiana have arrested and identified Darren Deon Vann as a possible serial killer after the bodies of seven women were found.
The suspected serial killer who is believed to have murdered seven women in Indiana has been identified by police, according to Fox News.
During a press conference, the man was identified as Darren Deon Vann, from Gary. He has been accused of murdering a woman on Friday at a Hammond, Indiana Motel 6. He then took police to multiple other dead bodies dumped in abandoned homes near Gary.
He is a convicted sex offender who had served time in Texas for sexual assault. As of Monday, he has only been charged with the murder of Afrika Hardy. Police said Hardy was a prostitute who was found strangled in the Motel 6 Friday night.
“It is possible the investigation could lead to more victims,” said Hammond Police Chief John Doughty.
Police linked Vann to the murder of Hardy when her pimp provided them with information that led to a search warrant.
Vann told officers where they could find three other women in Gary. His information led officers to the body of Anith Jones, of Merrillville in an abandoned home in Gary. They then found two other bodies.
Three other Jane Does were discovered by officers late on Sunday.
All of the deaths were ruled homicides and the bodies were found near or in abandoned or burnt homes in blighted neighborhoods.
In a post on Facebook Sunday, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. wrote, “The suspect Hammond arrested for the Motel 6 murder is an admitted serial killer. The suspect gave up the location of a body in Gary that was confirmed found where he said it would be.”
Gary Police Cpl. Gabrielle King issued the following statement:
“We would like to dispel the rumor that there is a serial killer on the loose. There is a 43-year-old man in the custody of The Hammond Police Department, who led officials to 3 deceased female victims who has claimed responsibility for their demise. Gary Police are closely working with Hammond Police to assist in covering every area of the investigation needed to pursue charges as expeditiously as possible.”
Karen Freeman-Wilson, the Mayor of Gary, and Larry McKinley, the Gary Police Chief, issued a joint statement:
“We commend the officers for their work thus far and ask the citizens to remain calm and patient as our teams work this investigation and do what they do best.”
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Image credit: ABC7 Chicago