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Two Charged In Connection With Indiana Woman's Death

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (CBS) -- Two people are charged in connection to the death of a young mother whose body was found in an abandoned Gary home last week.

CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports it began as a call to police for a welfare check and turned into a missing persons case involving a mother and child and finally into a murder investigation.

The Merrillville Police Department says prosecutors have charged Kareem Williams with murder and felony fraud as well as his girlfriend Alexis Alexander for felony fraud.

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Police say back on April 12, Williams got into an argument with 23-year-old Diamond Lewis, the mother of his child, questioning if he is indeed the father. Investigators say he choked the victim to death and later Williams and Alexander used her food assistance card to buy things and sold a car titled in Lewis' name.

Police say Lewis' body was later discovered in a vacant home in Gary. Court documents say Williams tried to burn her corpse.

Lewis has a two-month-old child, Morgan. One of Williams' family members apparently had the baby as the investigation began and returned the baby safely as police looked for those responsible.

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