UPDATE: The trial has just opened for Dennis Jelks, a 60-year-old man from Merrillville, who is facing murder charges for the January 2021 killing of his estranged girlfriend, Angela Carrier, aged 37. Jelks has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which have garnered significant public interest.
The case began on January 26, 2021Merrillville Menards to retrieve her mail from Jelks. Shortly after 1:30 PM, Carrier left with Jelks and was never seen alive again. Tragically, her body was discovered on January 30, shot twice in the back of the head, near 30th Avenue and Jackson Street.
Authorities have indicated that the bullets recovered were fired from a .38-caliber or .357-caliber gun. Carrier’s family reported to police that Jelks had a history of abusive behavior and kept a firearm in his vehicle. In a shocking twist, Jelks claims he and Carrier went to buy marijuana after leaving Menards, stating that two car doors opened and she got into a black vehicle that sped away. He called 911, asserting he lost track of her.
However, police and prosecutors have cast doubt on Jelks’s narrative. Det. Nick Wardrip has stated that evidence does not support his claims. Cell phone data revealed that Jelks’s phone was at Menards and pinged again near the location where Carrier’s body was later found around 2:00 PM. Following this, his phone location shifted to his brother’s house, raising further suspicion.
Deputy Prosecutors Infinity Westberg and Chris Bruno argue that Jelks was the last person to be seen with Carrier and have characterized their relationship as “long and tumultuous.” They emphasize that Jelks “repeatedly lied” to police, friends, and family. Meanwhile, Jelks’s defense attorney, Michael Lambert, contends that there is “no direct evidence” tying his client to the murder, suggesting that the prosecution has manufactured a narrative based on circumstantial evidence.
During the trial, a recorded phone call from Carrier’s stepfather, Shannon Smith, was played in which he confronted Jelks about Carrier’s disappearance. Smith expressed his suspicion, stating, “Dude, you got something to do with it.” Carrier’s family became increasingly alarmed when her pets were left alone, and they began to fear for her safety.
Carrier’s son, Caleb, described the couple’s relationship as “toxic,” confirming that they were in the process of breaking up. He and Smith had accompanied Carrier to the Menards parking lot to retrieve her mail, which was necessary for her Social Security benefits.
Witnesses have provided conflicting accounts of the events leading up to Carrier’s disappearance, with details about the vehicle she allegedly left in varying significantly. Carrier’s daughter, Shianne, reported that Jelks would often call her after she attempted to reach out to her mother, raising her suspicions about his involvement.
In a poignant testimony, Joshua Harper, who had an on-and-off relationship with Carrier since 2018, shared that he was in a wheelchair at the time of her disappearance and had been trying to reconnect with her. He expressed concern when she stopped responding to his messages.
The trial is still ongoing, and both the prosecution and defense are presenting their cases. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the community is left grappling with the shocking details of this case, highlighting the urgent issue of domestic violence.
Stay tuned for more updates as this trial progresses and more information comes to light.
