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| Man confesses to murders, leads police to the bodies of at least 7 women in Indiana | Man confesses to murders, leads police to the bodies of at least 7 women in Indiana |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police found the bodies of at least seven women in northwestern Indiana over the weekend, a gruesome string of killings apparently connected to the same man. | Police found the bodies of at least seven women in northwestern Indiana over the weekend, a gruesome string of killings apparently connected to the same man. |
| Hammond, Ind., police found the first body around 9:30 p.m. on Friday. The woman, identified as missing 19-year-old Afrika Hardy, was found strangled to death in a Motel 6 in the town. | Hammond, Ind., police found the first body around 9:30 p.m. on Friday. The woman, identified as missing 19-year-old Afrika Hardy, was found strangled to death in a Motel 6 in the town. |
| When police picked up a man based on a tip for that crime, he confessed and led them to separate locations in Gary, Ind., where they found three other female bodies, police told the Chicago Tribune. | When police picked up a man based on a tip for that crime, he confessed and led them to separate locations in Gary, Ind., where they found three other female bodies, police told the Chicago Tribune. |
| On Monday morning, WLS-TV reported that three more bodies were located in Hammond, possibly linked to the same 43-year-old man, bringing the total to seven. | On Monday morning, WLS-TV reported that three more bodies were located in Hammond, possibly linked to the same 43-year-old man, bringing the total to seven. |
| Police said the man is a “person of interest” in the string of killings, but they are not naming him until charges are filed. | Police said the man is a “person of interest” in the string of killings, but they are not naming him until charges are filed. |
| It is unclear how many of the murders the man might have been involved in, and Hammond police scheduled a news conference on Monday at noon Central time to provide more information. | It is unclear how many of the murders the man might have been involved in, and Hammond police scheduled a news conference on Monday at noon Central time to provide more information. |
| A second victim was identified as Anith Jones, 35, whose family had reported her missing on Oct. 8. About 30 Gary police officers had been searching for her and found her car sitting in the driveway of an abandoned house. | A second victim was identified as Anith Jones, 35, whose family had reported her missing on Oct. 8. About 30 Gary police officers had been searching for her and found her car sitting in the driveway of an abandoned house. |
| NBC 5 said the areas where the bodies were found were mainly blighted, sometimes fire-damaged houses. | NBC 5 said the areas where the bodies were found were mainly blighted, sometimes fire-damaged houses. |
| Amid the discoveries, the mayor of Hammond, Thomas McDermott, Jr., said in a Facebook post that the man was a “convicted sexual offender.” He had been convicted of sex crimes in Texas, added Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, according to ABC 6. | |
| “The suspect gave up the location of a body in Gary that was confirmed found where he said it would be,” McDermott wrote. | “The suspect gave up the location of a body in Gary that was confirmed found where he said it would be,” McDermott wrote. |
| McDermott said police are also investigating the man’s ties to murders dating back 20 years or more. | McDermott said police are also investigating the man’s ties to murders dating back 20 years or more. |
| “There are court records indicating that he was here back in 2004 [and] 2005, but there are also records that he was in Austin, Texas, and so he appears to be a person who has moved back and forth between a number of states,” said Freeman-Wilson, according to NBC Chicago. | |
| Gary officials are trying to allay fears that there is a serial killer at large in the community. | Gary officials are trying to allay fears that there is a serial killer at large in the community. |
| “We would like to dispel the rumor that there is a serial killer on the loose,” Gary Police Cpl. Gabrielle King said in a statement, according to NBC 5 in Chicago. “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.” | “We would like to dispel the rumor that there is a serial killer on the loose,” Gary Police Cpl. Gabrielle King said in a statement, according to NBC 5 in Chicago. “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.” |