Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells is scheduling a forensic autopsy for the victim of an apparent homicide at a California Township home. Investigators from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department found the woman late Friday afternoon after a high-speed chase that began with a carjacking at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center on State Road 10at 3:41 p.m. and ended on Interstate 65 in Lake County when the suspect apparently shot himself after police deployed stop sticks to end the pursuit. He is in critical condition at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. Authorities have not released his name and will not do so until proper next of kin notifications are made.
Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells tells WKVI news the woman was in her late 40s or early 50s. Her name has not been released either. Rannells hopes to schedule the autopsy early next week in Fort Wayne. Until then he is not able to comment on the manner in which she was killed. Authorities have not released information on the relationship between the accused carjacker and the homicide victim and declined comment as to whether either has a criminal record. We will post updates throughout the weekend if additional information is released.
