INDIANAPOLIS — An 18-year-old man has been charged with a 77-year-old woman's murder on the southwest side of Indianapolis Friday evening.
According to a release from IMPD, around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, officers were called to the 2900 block of Landola Lane, near South Lynhurst Drive and West Troy Avenue, on a report of a disturbance.
Court documents say the homeowner found 77-year-old Mary Sims unconscious in a locked bathroom with plastic around her head. Detectives also said Sims had cuts and abrasions on her body, and she was in handcuffs.
Medics pronounced Sims dead at the scene.
Detective learned there had been a disturbance at the home the prior evening involving 18-year-old Zakii Dawson, who was allegedly told he wasn't allowed back at the house but was there when Sims was found dead. Family of Sims told 13News that Dawson was a family friend who they initially had allowed to stay at the home.
According to court documents, detectives spoke with Dawson, who allegedly admitted he arrived at the home and said, "Mary was snoring."
Court documents say Dawson then placed Sims in handcuffs because he was "worried she may wake up and bump her head or something." Dawson also allegedly admitted to wrapping Sims' head in plastic because he said he couldn't look at her.
When detectives asked about the smell of bleach in the home, Dawson allegedly said he tried to clean up the blood.
According to court documents, detectives said Dawson had multiple injuries on his hands and suspected blood on his clothes.
Police arrested Dawson, and prosecutors filed a charge of murder on Tuesday.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Detective David Miller at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475, email David.Miller2@indy.gov, or contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).
