An early-morning stabbing in Elkhart left a 37-year-old woman dead Monday and a suspected attacker later found dead in a nearby creek bed, according to police.
Officers were called to the 1200 block of Chinaberry Drive around 3:37 a.m., where they found Myrna Ugarte Gaona suffering from multiple stab wounds, the Elkhart Police Department said in a news release. Medics from the Elkhart Fire Department administered first aid and took her to a hospital, where she later died.
As officers searched the neighborhood, they found an adult man in a creek bed near the residence. Police are calling him a suspect, and investigators say his cause of death has not yet been determined. Authorities described the incident as isolated and said they do not believe there is any further danger to the public. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit was activated to lead the investigation.
The victim was publicly identified as 37-year-old Myrna Ugarte Gaona, as reported by WNDU. That reporting also noted that the male suspect had not yet been named and that detectives were still working to determine how he died. According to WNDU, the Elkhart County Homicide Unit was interviewing witnesses and processing evidence at the scene.
How the Homicide Unit Is Handling the Case
According to the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office, the Homicide Unit is a multi-jurisdictional team that investigates homicides, suspicious deaths and incidents involving police use of force. Those investigations typically involve collecting physical evidence, coordinating forensic testing and conducting numerous witness interviews.
The prosecutor's office notes that these cases can take time as detectives work with partner agencies and compile reports and records for potential charging decisions. Officials said anyone with tips for investigators should contact the Elkhart County Homicide Unit at 574-295-2825 while the investigation continues.
How to Help Investigators
Anyone with information about Monday's incident is urged to call the Elkhart County Homicide Unit at 574-295-2825. Investigators are asking residents who may have seen anything or who captured video in the area during the early-morning hours to come forward to help establish a clear timeline of what happened. Police have said they will release further updates as detectives gather more information.
