INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD homicide detectives have arrested a 34-year-old man for his alleged role in the murder of a 15-year-old girl found in a wooded area on the northeast side Wednesday.
IMPD officers were called around noon to the 10000 block of Aristocrat Drive North for a death investigation. The body of Janiya Carr was found behind the location of the call in the tree line.
According to court documents, Carr was found by a woman walking her dog in the apartment complex.
It was discovered Carr had a gunshot wound and trauma to her head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
IMPD announced an arrest Thursday night. In a statement, Deputy Chief Kendal Adam said "I’m proud of the many detectives, investigators, victim advocates and officers who worked through the night and into this evening, many without sleep, to identify, apprehend and arrest the person we believe responsible for Janiya’s death."
The suspect was also arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Alabama. Per WRTV policy, we are not naming the suspect until formal charges are filed. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decision.
IMPD and court documents confirmed the suspect is a maintenance worker at the apartment complex that Carr's body was found behind. He was seen letting Carr into his Kia Optima after 4 a.m. and returning with her a short time later.
According to court documents, the Kia Optima was seen on video sitting near the location Carr's body was eventually found for multiple minutes.
On Thursday, Carr's mother joined a Chicago community activist to call on the community to provide information leading to an arrest in her daughter's homicide.
