Davita Jean Ward, a 39-year-old female, was killed in Gary, Indiana, in a harrowing incident that ended a volatile and abusive relationship. On June 17, 2018, her body was discovered inside a torched 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix in the 2400 block of Noble Street. An investigation revealed she had been fatally shot before the fire was set. Friends and family remembered her as a kindhearted and loving woman who had graduated from Gary West Side High School.
She was a licensed cosmetologist known for her talent in braiding hair and also worked in the laundry department at a local nursing home.
The investigation into her death led to her boyfriend, Hugh Scott. Evidence presented showed a history of domestic violence, with Ward having expressed fear of Scott in Facebook messages, calling him 'crazy.' A co-worker of Ward's testified that she had seen choke marks on Ward's neck and that Ward had recounted Scott threatening to kill her to avoid going to jail. Just weeks before her death, Ward had filed a police report against Scott for stalking and breaking windows at her residence.
Three years after Davita's death, in August 2021, Hugh Scott was charged with her murder. Although the case against him was circumstantial, strong evidence pointed to his involvement. Shortly after her death, Scott sought treatment at Loyola for severe burns on his legs, which prosecutors argued were sustained when the car was set on fire. In March 2022, a jury convicted Scott of murder, aggravated battery, and arson. A Lake County judge sentenced him to a total of 103.5 years in prison, calling him the 'worst of the worst.' Scott has continued to deny his involvement in the crime.
