INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police say a 60-year-old resident of a southside healthcare facility has been arrested after a woman was found dead inside one of the rooms early Wednesday.
Police say the suspect and victim were both residents at Homestead Healthcare Center, located in the 7400 block of Madison Avenue, and the circumstances were "suspicious."
The victim, identified as Patricia Newnum, 80, died by asphyxiation due to smothering, according to the Marion County coroner's office.
"Based upon available evidence, detectives believe this death is the result of a homicide," IMPD said in a Facebook post Wednesday night.
Officers were first dispatched to the facility around 5:30 a.m. Several IMPD cars and a crime scene unit were parked outside the facility past 12:30 p.m. and homicide detectives also responded.
Dwayne Freeman, 60, of Indianapolis has been formally charged with murder and rape in Newnum's death.
Anyone with information about this incident should call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or e-mail the detective at Douglas.Swails@indy.gov. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).
