Indianapolis police have arrested Francisco Valadez, 29, an Uber driver who has confessed to raping and killing Chanti Dixon, 30.
Dixon’s body was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound in a wooded area behind her home on Monday, just a day after Valadez had picked her up from her job at an Indianapolis strip club.
“This is disgusting,” Police Chief Chris Bailey remarked, condemning the brutal crime. “It’s disturbing. No one deserves to be treated this way in our community.” Assistant Chief of Police Catherine Cummings echoed these sentiments, emphasising the impact on women and the right to safety within the community.
According to court documents, detectives traced Dixon’s last known ride to Valadez using her phone. Valadez initially gave conflicting accounts of the incident. He first claimed that an armed man had approached his car, robbed Dixon, and shot her before fleeing the scene. Valadez alleged that Dixon had kicked herself out of the car and that he had cleaned the blood from his vehicle.
However, Valadez later admitted to police that he had sexually assaulted Dixon and that her comments about his body enraged him, leading him to shoot her in the head. After the murder, he reportedly dragged her body out of his car and attempted to assault her corpse sexually.
Valadez’s mother revealed that her son owned a gun and frequently carried it. Following his confession, Valadez has been charged with felony murder, with additional charges expected.
Dixon’s mother, Rise Dixon, described her daughter as a vibrant and joyful person, expressing her heartbreak and anger over the tragedy. “I keep waiting for her to walk through that door, but I know she won’t,” she told WRTV. Rise Dixon emphasised the importance of addressing such violence and taking precautions when using ride-share services.
Dixon, a mother of two children, Dashun, 13, and Chianti, 10, had a GoFundMe set up by her sister to cover funeral expenses. Rise Dixon hopes her daughter’s legacy will inspire change and caution among users of ride-share apps.
In response to the incident, Uber confirmed that Valadez has been banned from the platform. “Our hearts break for Ms Dixon’s family and loved ones amid this tragedy,” Uber said. “The details of this act of violence are atrocious, and we will assist Indianapolis police however we can as they continue to investigate.”
