Teen Charged In Murder Of Woman Found In Trunk Of Car In Gary
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Evidence on a GPS device and blood inside a home has led prosecutors to charge a teenager with the murder of a woman who was found stabbed to death inside the trunk of her car in Gary.
Damarius Rashard Wren, 18, who is allegedly the boyfriend of the victim's daughter, was charged on Friday in knowingly or intentionally killing DeCarol Deloney sometime between July 3 and July 7.
Lake County Coroner's office said Deloney, 54, had suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head.
Her body was found wrapped in black plastic bags on Monday in the trunk of her own car, which had been left in a wooded area near 22nd Place and Missouri Street in Gary. Her hands and feet were bound with what appeared to be red duct tape with a pillow case over her head.
Deloney had six stab wounds and a broken skull, the coroner found.
Deloney, a mother of three who lived in Crown Point, was a flight attendant for United Airlines for about 25 years.
After the body was discovered, police got a call from Deloney's daughter, who told investigators that she had found a bloody wrench and a stain on the basement floor.
While police were investigating inside the victim's home, they found a vacuum that contained blood inside.
Further investigation around the home revealed a garbage bag box similar to the bags found with the victim as well as red duct tape.
Initially, Wren claimed the stain on the floor was a fruit drink. During questioning, police also told Wren they found a GPS device in the victim's living room. When it was activated, it showed the location where Deloney's car had been found in Gary.
Wren then told police he had found the body in the basement and kept his girlfriend, who was the victim's daughter, out of the basement while he wrapped it in plastic.
The daughter, who has not been charged, admitted that she drove with Wren in a separate car to the scene in Gary where her mother's body was discovered. She also told police that Wren and another individual had planned to steal Deloney's ATM card, withdraw money and drive to Ohio.
The robbery never occurred, the daughter told investigators.
Deloney's son said the airline contacted him on Sunday, saying she had missed work.
The family learned of her murder when her body was found Monday, although she was not publicly identified until Wednesday.
Her family last saw her just before the July 4th holiday.
