Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Police are investigating an attack on an 80-year-old woman that they believe killed her. They say a man almost half her age sexually assaulted her and may soon be facing murder charges.
It happened on the east side in the 1000 block of North Kealing Avenue on July 18th.
Police say Kathleen Vargas was attacked in her own home about a month ago by her 46-year-old boyfriend. They say the sexual assault was so brutal that she was unable to recover. Vargas died Wednesday night.
On July 18th, police arrested 46-year-old Monte Ayres for attempted murder, aggravated battery and rape. They say he violently assaulted 80-year-old Kathleen Vargas.
"The injuries she sustained during the sexual attack may in fact be the cause of her death," said Lt. Jeff Duhamell.
Ayres may now be charged with Vargas' murder.
"He's in jail now and hopefully won't see daylight again," said Lt. Duhamell.
Police say Vargas went across the street to try to escape Ayres. That's where a neighbor said he found her crying and shaking violently.
"I heard this lady yell, hollering 'mister.' She was leaned up against the railing. I asked her what was going on and she said, 'He beat me up,'" said the neighbor.
Police say Ayres tried to flee the scene but they caught up with him in a back alley.
"He resisted officers and fought them. He has a past for that - resisting and drinking. This isn't the first run in officers have had with him. In fact they've been called to that residence on a few other occasions involving him and each time he's been very violent," said Lt. Duhamell.
Neighbors say Ayres was Vargas' live-in boyfriend. He lived on and off with the 80-year-old woman for a few years.
"From my understanding I believe she hired him to cut her grass one day and that's kind of how they met," said neighbor Darrell Powers.
"She had at times spoken to me about some problems. She felt she made a big mistake by letting him move in. I said, 'Well, if you're having problems you should have him removed,'" said Powers.
Police say they removed Ayres several times from her home at her request. But neighbors say she always took him back in.
"By some of the things she said I think she felt that maybe he would improve and she didn't want to throw him out on the street. He didn't have a place to go. So I think the nice part of her is what kept him around," Powers said.
Murder charges are pending the results of her autopsy. Ayres is still behind bars on a $200,000 bond.
