In the fall of 2019, a tragedy unfolded in Gary, Indiana, forever altering the lives of a local family. On the morning of October 25th, emergency services responded to a house fire in the 3500 block of West 20th Avenue. Inside the burning home, firefighters discovered the bodies of three individuals. One of the victims was identified as 54-year-old Nefreteri Jones, a female resident of the city.
Also found deceased were her 33-year-old son, Dwayne Jones, and her 27-year-old niece, Yoasha Carter.
As investigators delved into the circumstances surrounding the fire, a grim narrative began to emerge. They found shell casings within the residence and determined that all three victims had been shot. The coroner's office later confirmed that the victims had died from their gunshot wounds before the fire was set, as there was no soot found in their windpipes. This discovery shifted the focus of the investigation from a tragic accident to a triple homicide and arson. Neighbors reported hearing a man and a woman arguing at the home at approximately 9:45 that morning, followed by a loud noise.
The investigation quickly led to a person of interest, 31-year-old Reginald Carter, who was the boyfriend of Yoasha Carter. He was located by investigators outside the crime scene after the fire. In the subsequent investigation, a witness who had lent Carter her minivan noted that it smelled of bleach and that he was wearing different clothes than he had on earlier in the day. It was also revealed that Yoasha Carter had previously told a witness that her boyfriend had choked her until she was unconscious on two separate occasions.
Based on the evidence gathered, Reginald Carter was arrested and charged with three counts of murder and one count of arson. A Lake County judge ordered him to be held without bail. The deaths of Nefreteri Jones, her son, and her niece were a profound loss to their family and the community. Nefreteri was remembered as a loving mother, sister, and aunt who was deeply cherished by her numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
