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Afrikka Hardy, 19, had recently returned to the area from Colorado, where she had attended high school. She was found dead in a motel in Hammond, Indiana on Friday, October 17, apparently after meeting with Vann. (Facebook)
Afrikka Hardy is one of the victims of alleged serial killer Darren Deon Vann, who was arrested on Friday following the discovery of Hardy’s body.
1. Her Body Was Found at a Motel 6 in Hammond, Indiana on October 17
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This Google Street View image shows the exterior of the motel where the body of victim Afrikka Hardy, 19, was found on October 17 (Google Street View)
Hardy was found unresponsive at the Motel 6 shown above on Friday October 17. She had planned to meet with Vann, and a friend who facilitated this meeting became concerned for her safety after receiving suspicious texts from her phone, and went to check on her, where she discovered Hardy’s body. She had been strangled.
2. She Had Recently Returned to her Hometown of Chicago From Colorado
KDVR.com reports that the family were originally from Chicago but had been living in Colorado, where Hardy attended high school.
Her mother, named as Loria Townsend, still lives in Aurora, Colorado, and said that her daughter had moved to Chicago “a few months ago.”
3. She Had Recently Tweeted About Someone Called ‘Deon’
A Twitter account under the name of Afrikka Hardy tweeted on October 14 about someone called ‘Deon’, saying, “Deon real name ???? I’m weak”.
Though possibly unrelated, Deon is the middle name of Darren Deon Vann, the man who police suspect murdered her three days after this tweet was posted.
4. She Met the Suspect on Backpage.com
Speaking to NWI.com, her aunt, Mary Miller, said that she had been working as an escort since moving to Chicago.
Police also confirmed that Hardy had been working as a prostitute and had made contact with Vann on backpage.com, a website where sex workers advertise.
5. The Man Suspected of Her Murder is Also Suspected in at Least Six Other Murders
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Darren Deon Vann is the sex offender accused of at least seven murders in Indiana, after women’s bodies were found in and around Hammond and Gary, Indiana. (Handout)
After hardy’s body was discovered in Hammond on the night of October 17, police were led to Darren Deon Vann by clues found at the crime scene. He admitted involvement in the killing during interrogation and then led investigators to the bodies of three women in Gary, Indiana. Police later found three more bodies with information he provided to them.