7 bodies found in Indiana; alleged serial killer identified

GARY, Ind. -- A man from Gary, Indiana, has allegedly confessed to the murders of seven women whose bodies were found over the weekend in northwest Indiana. Officials said the alleged serial killer could have more victims.

Police said Darren Deon Vann, 43, confessed to the murder of 19-year-old Afrikka Hardy, whose body was found at 9:30 p.m. Friday at a Motel 6 in Hammond. She was strangled, according to an autopsy. Hardy had arranged to meet Vann for sex, according to Hammond Police Chief Doughty. The facilitator of that encounter led officials to Vann after finding Hardy's body.

Vann was arrested near his home without incident on Saturday afternoon. He began cooperating, Doughty said, and told police he "had messed up by committing the crime in Hammond, and was surprised by how quickly he was located."

Vann also led police to the bodies of six other women in Gary. But officials said there could be more victims.

"It could go back as far as 20 years based on some statements we have. That has yet to be corroborated," Doughty said. "He claims crimes he committed in Indiana go back that far."

On Saturday at 11:20 p.m., the body of Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville, was found in the 400 block of East 43rd Avenue. She was reported missing on Oct. 8.

Early Sunday, the body of Teairra Batey, 28, of Gary, was found in an abandoned home in the 1800 block of East 19th Avenue. Another victim, still unidentified, was also found in the 2200 block of Massachusetts Street.

On Sunday evening, the body of Christine Williams, 26, was found in the 4300 block of Massachusetts Street. Hours later, two more bodies were found in the 400 block of east 43rd Avenue. They have not been identified.

"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.

Murder charges are pending in the Hardy murder, Doughty said.