Man charged in strangulation death of Merrillville mother

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) -- A man was charged Saturday in the strangulation death of Diamond Lewis, a 22-year-old Merrillville mother who was found dead in a Gary basement, police said.

Lewis went missing on Tuesday along with her 2-month-old daughter,Morgan.

Kareem Jahbbar Williams has been charged with murder. He allegedly became angry with Lewis because he was not her baby's father, according to police. Authorities in northwest Indiana said he strangled her and then burned her body, which was later found in the basement of a vacant home near 18th and Lincoln in Gary.

The baby is healthy and now in protective custody.

Williams, along with Alexis Alexander, allegedly used Lewis' public assistance card after her death. As a result, both Williams and Alexander face felony fraud charges, police said.