A horrifying case has unfolded in Indianapolis, where a 30-year-old mother of two, Chanti Dixon, was allegedly raped and murdered by her Uber driver, Francisco Valadez.
Dixon, who had requested a ride home from work, was found dead on Monday, September 9, in a wooded area. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) arrested Valadez on suspicion of murder after he allegedly confessed to the crime.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Valadez, 29, initially gave police conflicting accounts of what had happened. He first claimed that after dropping Dixon off, a “Black” man had attempted to rob her and shot her. However, after further questioning by the authorities, Valadez allegedly admitted to trying to have sex with Dixon in the back seat of his car. During this struggle, he shot her in the head and later abandoned her body behind a concrete barrier on a dead-end street.
IMPD officers described the case as “disturbing” and “disgusting.” Indianapolis Assistant Police Chief Catherine Cummings expressed her outrage at the crime, saying that women, girls, and mothers have the right to live freely without the fear of terrible things happening to them. She said the incident is a family’s worst nightmare, and offered condolences to the victim’s family.
Dixon’s body was found by her family after they traced her phone to the wooded area near her home. Evidence found at the scene, including Dixon’s personal belongings, further linked Valadez to the crime. Authorities also reported that he had been identified as a suspect following “assistance from the community,” leading to his arrest. The investigation is ongoing, and charges against Valadez have not yet been confirmed.
Valadez has since been banned from Uber, and the company released a statement expressing their condolences to Dixon’s family and affirming their commitment to rider safety.
The victim’s family has started a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses and provide for her two children, ages 13 and 10. Dixon’s sister, who started the fundraiser, described Chanti as a “devoted mother” and “a caring and fun-loving person whose laughter could light up a room.” The page has already raised several thousand dollars, as the community mourns the loss of a beloved member.
The Indianapolis Police Department continues to urge anyone with additional information about suspicious interactions with Valadez to come forward. They have set up a dedicated hotline for tips regarding the case, and community cooperation remains a vital part of the investigation.