Lawrence, Indiana – A man killed his roommate and dumped his body near Fort Harrison State Park.
According to police, Dawaun Lewis, 25, faces one count of murder for the death of 43-year-old William Romero.
Lewis is accused of killing Romero on or around March 12. Romero’s body was found on March 17 near Trilobi Drive and Lee Road near the northeast corner of Fort Harrison State Park. According to police, the body was covered by leaves and was discovered by a person walking their dog in a wooded area.
According to The Marion County Coroner’s Office, Romero died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Romero was last seen alive early on the morning of March 12 as he and Lewis left the McDonald’s on East 96th Street in Fishers where they both worked, according to court documents. In the days following Romero’s death, his Nissan Altima was seen driving around near McDonald’s. Police learned that Lewis was the person driving the car. Lewis was detained for questioning on March 21. During a search of the apartment the two men shared on Wheel Estates East Drive in Fishers, police found blood spatter on a wall next to the couch and a .22 caliber handgun in a closet, court papers say. Police also found dried blood inside Romero’s Nissan. Lab analysis of the blood found in the Nissan was confirmed to be Romero’s. His DNA was also found on the front sight and muzzle of the handgun found in the apartment’s closet, according to police.
According to court papers, Lewis’ DNA was found on the trigger and other parts of the handgun and on a box of ammunition that was in the closet.
Cell phone data acquired by police showed that early on the morning of March 12, both men’s cellphones were in the area of Triboli Drive and Lee Road where Romero’s body was later found, court papers say. An initial hearing is set for April 19.
