A Chicago woman was apparently beaten to death during a barricade situation inside a home in Munster, Ind., on Jan. 1, 2012. Her estranged husband is suspected of killing her. (Credit: CBS)
MUNSTER, Ind. (STMW) – The estranged husband of a Chicago woman is in custody after she apparently beaten to death during a northwest Indiana barricade situation early Tuesday.
Erica Veldinia, 33, of the 10600 block of South Avenue N in Chicago’s East Side section, was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m., according to the Lake County Coroner’s office.
She suffered a blunt force trauma to the head at 882 Boxwood in Munster, in the Sutton Place Condominiums, near the corner of Calumet Avenue and Main Street.
According to Munster Police, the department responded to a call for a disturbance at the 800 block of Boxwood, and encountered a man outside the residence who claimed he had been battered by his girlfriend’s estranged husband. He said the man was still inside of the residence and was possibly armed.
The man barricaded himself inside the residence, forcing the regional SWAT task force to respond.
The SWAT team deployed a remote-controlled robot inside the residence and the man surrendered.
Police found Veldina with traumatic blunt force injuries to her face and head. She was rushed to Community Hospital for treatment, where she died from her injuries.
Her estranged husband is in custody and charges are pending, according to a release from Munster police.
Munster Police and the Lake County Police Crime Lab are investigating. Munster Police said they would release more information Wednesday.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
