Murdered Gary couple ID'd as Margarine, James Haywood
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) -- A suspect is in custody in the murders an elderly couple identified as Margarine and James Haywood of Gary, Ind.
Margarine, 80, was stabbed to death at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, Ind., around 12:30 a.m. Friday, triggering a lockdown and manhunt.
"Our officers also work off-duty security here at the hospital. We received some sort of notification that there was an altercation going on in one of the rooms. On our officer's arrival, the victim was being worked on by staff, so it was within moments of the actual incident," Det. Robert Wiley, Merrillville Police Department, said.
As the hospital was on lockdown, Gary police went to the Haywood home in the 1500-block of Hovey Street. James, 88, was found dead around 3 a.m. He, too, had been stabbed to death.
"Police officers went to that location, forced entry into that house, and discovered a male, deceased, at that location," Chief Wade Ingram, Gary Police Department, said.
A Haywood relative was taken into police custody at 5 a.m. from a home in the 3800-block of Carolina Street. Police have not identified him; no charges have been filed. But sources said they believe the suspect is the victims' son.
"He hasn't said anything, no," Corporal Gabrielle King, Gary Police Department, said. King said there is also no known motive for the murders.
Margarine and James were longtime residents in their Gary neighborhood, where they knew everyone on the block.
"I'm devastated, and all of my neighbors are devastated," neighbor Harold West said. West said they helped others when they were able. Margarine used a wheelchair, he said, but always waved from behind the living room window.
"That window, curtains are closed right now, that's usually open. And she's usually sitting in the window, watching (and waving at you)," neighbor Audrey Avery said.
The hospital hasn't said if protocol will be under review. Many hospitals allow family to visit at off-hours.
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The hospital's Southlake campus is located at 8701 Broadway, just south of Lincoln Highway and west of I-65.
