No bond for two charged with roles in death of Merrillville woman

Two people charged in connection with the death of a 23-year-old northwest Indiana woman found murdered Thursday afternoon in Gary are being held without bond.

Kareem Jahbarr Williams, 23, was charged with murder and fraud; and Alexis Alexander, 22, was charged with fraud in connection with the death of Diamond C. Lewis, according to Merrillville police.

Police said Lewis and Williams had been arguing about whether Williams was the father of Lewis’s 2-month-old daughter when he “lost control and killed Lewis,” police said.

She was found dead Thursday in the basement of an abandoned home in the 1400 block of West 18th Avenue in Gary, Gary police said. The body was discovered after Gary detectives were notified by a “verified source” about her location.

Lewis, of the 1400 block of West 73rd Place in Merrillville, died of asphyxiation due to strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Lake County coroner’s office.

She had been reported missing April 16 after last being seen at her apartment and in Gary on April 12, police said. Her daughter was also reported missing, but was found safe on Tuesday.

Williams and Alexander face fraud charges for using Lewis’ government aid card to make purchases, and for forging her signature to sell her car, police said.

Both are being held without bond at the Lake County Jail, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office.