The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper has learned that Indianapolis police are now considering whether alleged Gary serial killer Darren Deon Vann could ultimately become a suspect in four Indy homicides, including the strangulation murder of 15-year-old Dominique Allen.
As of Thursday afternoon, Vann, 43, of Gary, had been charged in the deaths of 19-year-old Afrikka Hardy, and Anith Jones, 35.
Of the five other victims, three remain Jane Does, while the other two have been identified as Teaira Batey, 28; and Kristine Williams, 36.
Police say Vann confessed to killing the seven women following the Oct. 17th discovery of Hardy’s lifeless body in a bathtub at the Motel 6 hotel in Hammond. The other victims were found in abandoned buildings in Gary.
“I was watching the news, and it sparked my attention,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Detective Marcus Kennedy, a lead investigator for Dominique Allen’s homicide.
Police believe Allen’s killer abducted the Ben Davis student early in the morning of Aug. 31, strangled her in an abandoned building in 1900 W. 10th St., and burned her body at 1100 N. Elder Ave., possibly to destroy evidence.
Kennedy pointed out that Vann, a convicted sex offender, is suspected of strangling women in abandoned buildings. In 2004 in Gary, Vann threatened to set his girlfriend on fire after saturating her clothing with gasoline, police said.
Kennedy said in addition to the investigation into Allen’s murder, IMPD has “three other cases” involving female homicide victims where investigators would like to rule Vann in or out as a potential suspect.
Now, the question remains: could Vann have been in Indianapolis during the time of these killings? It is not just police asking, but members of the public as well.
On the public Facebook page, Justice 4 Dominique Allen,
One poster asked: “Is anyone suggesting to the Indianapolis Police department that they get in touch with authorities in Gary to check where this monster was the day Dominique disappeared?” The poster added, “I know our city is literally on the other side of the state but considering that this guy has led police to 7 victims he murdered its worth looking into I think.”
The public should be assured that every lead will be followed, Kennedy said.
“I’ve called up there,” Kennedy said of Hammond police investigators. “We know they’re real busy and getting calls from all over the country.”
Whether Vann is now ruled in or out as a potential suspect, Kennedy said the IMPD remains committed to finding Dominique Allen’s killer.
“We just came out of a meeting this morning with 15 detectives,” Kennedy said. “It’s a very strange case, and it’s touched everybody in the city. We’ve gotten so much cooperation from the city. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The Recorder was not immediately successful at reaching Hammond Police Chief John D. Doughty and Supervising Special Agent Bob Ramsey of the FBI office in Merrillville for comment.
