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The bodies of seven women have been discovered, and a man is in custody. Police believe he’s connected to all seven deaths, sources tell WGN.
Authorities identified one of the seven victims as Afrika Hardy, 19. Hardy was found unresponsive at a Motel 6 in the 3800-block of 179th Street in Hammond around 9:30 p.m. Friday. An autopsy found on Sunday that she died as a result of strangulation. She was the first victim to be found.
Police said a 43-year-old man from Gary confessed to Hardy’s death. They are calling him a person of interest. A source told ABC7 Eyewitness News he may be linked to other murders.
Officials said three bodies were then discovered in abandoned homes in Gary late Saturday night, based on a statement from the man in custody. The body of a woman police identified as Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville, was found in the 400-block of East 43rd Avenue. She was reported missing on Oct. 8. A second body was found in the 2200-block of Massachusetts Street, and a third body was found in the 1800-block of East 19th Avenue.
“Once we find out who they are, we can do a timeline back to see who the last person was that they talked to or last person was who they were with and then the investigation can really take off,” Gary Police Department Cpl. Gabrielle King said.
The man in custody has not yet been charged. Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson confirmed he is a sex offender from Austin, Texas, who moved to Gary in 2004.
The mayor said he moved many times and has court cases pending. He is also recently divorced. Freeman-Wilson said he filed in Lake Superior Court in East Chicago, Ind.
Hammond police are expected to update the case on Monday.
Agencies/Canadajournal
