Woman found murdered in Gary alley ID'd
GARY, Ind. -- A woman found dead in a Gary alley with a gunshot wound to her head died of blunt force trauma, an autopsy has found.
Piera M. Griffith, 34, of the 800 block of 44th Avenue, was found in the alley in the 3800 block of Massachusetts Street about 7:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Gary police and the Lake County Coroner's office.
The coroner's office previously said she died from a gunshot wound to the head, but an autopsy Tuesday found she died of blunt force trauma. She was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. and her death was ruled a homicide.
The woman was lying in a pool of blood and investigators noticed a trail of blood from a nearby wooded area, authorities said.
The woman is Gary's 23rd homicide of the year and the second in the two weeks since Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson announced a comprehensive program to combat crime in the city.
Detective Alex Jones is investigating the homicide. Anyone with information can call (219) 881-7477.
Source: Sun-Times Media Wire - Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2014.)
