An Uber driver in Indianapolis, Francisco Valadez, is set to serve a 45-year prison sentence after agreeing to a plea deal in the murder of Chanti Dixon. According to court documents, Valadez admitted to authorities that he killed Dixon, a 30-year-old passenger, during an attempted rape in September 2024. This case has raised urgent questions regarding the safety measures of ride-share services and their oversight.
Dixon was reportedly picked up by Valadez after finishing her work shift in the early hours and was subsequently reported missing the following day. After a police investigation, Valadez was located and connected to the crime. The court records detail, having become enraged, he admitted to police that he shot Dixon in the head while attempting sexual assault in the back of his car. FOX59/CBS4 reported that Valadez also attempted to abuse Dixon's corpse following the murder.
The plea bargain also includes that Valadez has agreed to plead guilty to one count of murder while, in exchange, additional charges of attempted rape and abuse of a corpse will be dismissed, as stated in documents obtained by WTHR. A significant part of the plea includes a direct lifetime no-contact order with Rise Dixon, who is related to the victim.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey condemned the act during a news conference, stating, "This is disgusting, disturbing, and no one deserves to be treated this way," as he addressed the incident as per WTHR. A change of plea hearing is scheduled for today, December 4, where a judge will decide whether to accept the plea agreement, as mentioned by WRTV.
