Man charged after 2 women were found dead under similar circumstances on the same street
02/09/2024 12:18 pm PST
INDIANAPOLIS (TCD) -- Police apprehended and are charging a man they allege killed two women on the same street within days of each other.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday, Feb. 9, that David Hiner was arrested and charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Shannon Lassere, 58, and Marianne Weis, 52.
The investigation began on Saturday, Jan. 27, when Lassere was found dead at on the 2200 block of North Mitthoefer Road. Five days later, on Thursday, Feb. 1, Indianapolis Metro Police were called to the 2100 block of North Mitthoefer Road, where they found Weis deceased. Police were urging people in the area to "practice good safety habits" as the investigation continued.
Police said in addition to occurring in close proximity to each other, the women’s deaths bore other similarities. Weis and Lassere were both white women in their 50s and they both died from sharp force injuries. Police said they "had ties to the far east side" of the city. The Indianapolis Star reports the two women were discovered face down and had their pants bunched around their knees.
According to Indianapolis Police, detectives obtained a "significant amount of video" footage from businesses in the area, which reportedly showed a man and one of the victims together. The Indianapolis Star reports Weis was seen on camera behind a Dollar General and walking down an alley with a male who police believe was Hiner.
Police identified Hiner as a suspect after Human Trafficking and Vice Unit detectives canvassed the area where the women were found. Hiner spoke with investigators Feb. 6, and the next day, homicide detectives executed a search warrant at his apartment. They reportedly found shoes that had apparent dried blood on them as well as jeans that were soaking in bleach in a bucket in his bathtub.
Police learned Hiner was on probation out of La Porte County, Indiana. The blood found on Hiner’s shoes allegedly matched Weis and Lassere’s DNA.
Police said there is "a lot of work yet to do" despite the arrest.
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