WHEELING (Ill.) — Police say a 26-year old man was arrested for first-degree murder in the strangulation of a woman from Chicago whose 1-year-old girl was found dead in a Northwest Indiana retention pond.
Al Steffen, Wheeling’s Deputy Police Chief, identified the suspect as Ahmeel Foller from the Illinois community Pinegree Grove. Steffan stated that Fowler and Ja’nya, 21-year-old, of Wheeling, were once in a “troubled” relationship.
Murphy’s body was discovered Tuesday night at her home. Police also said that Jaclyn Angel Dobbs, her daughter who was originally reported missing on Thursday, was found dead in a retention pond in Hammond, Indiana.
Authorities have confirmed that Fowler is not actually the father of the girl. Although Fowler has not been charged with the death of the child, Steffen stated that police “anticipate” additional charges.
Friday’s autopsy would be performed on the remains of the child.
Police later identified Fowler as the man who was last seen with Murphy on Monday at a mall. He was then arrested in Missouri the following day as a person-of-interest in Murphy’s death. According to authorities, he was driving a minivan and was stopped by police officers in Missouri.
