INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Marion County Coroner said a 20-year-old woman whose body was found burned at a fire was shot to death.
Melissa Runnels’s body was found in the 1100 block of Warman Ave. on the near west side early Friday after a neighbor called 911 to report a garage fire.
She was found so badly burned that authorities couldn’t determine if the victim was male or female.
After investigating, police determined her death was a homicide.
“It’s very shocking. It’s disturbing. I never would have thought something would happen this close to home,” said neighbor Shanay Pope.
The front door of that home had to be broken down after police obtained a warrant to search the property, but investigators didn’t find anything inside.
No arrests have been made in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
