GARY: The bodies of seven women were found in Indiana state over the weekend after a man’s confession to one killing led police to the grisly discovery of the other bodies, including three in one abandoned house, authorities said on Monday.

The discoveries began after a 43-year-old man allegedly confessed to killing a woman whose body was found on Friday in an Indiana motel.

He then told investigators where more bodies could be found in abandoned homes in the nearby city of Gary, a deteriorating former steel town about 50 kilometres southeast of Chicago, police said.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said that the suspect is a sex offender from Texas. Freeman-Wilson said authorities aren’t certain how long the man has been in northwestern Indiana, although he does have a conviction for illegally entering a home in the area.

The mayor says she doesn’t know whether more bodies might be found.

“We really don’t know. When you’re dealing with someone like this it’s just hard to tell,” she said.

Hammond police Lt. Rich Hoyda said Sunday the man’s name wasn’t being released because he had not yet been formally charged. He would not say when charges will be filed.

The bodies were found after Gary police followed up on information the man provided during questioning, Hammond police Lt. Rich Hoyda said Sunday. Hoyda wouldn’t comment on how the man knew the women, a possible motive or whether the man confessed to killing any of the other women.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014