On September 11, 2016, police in Fort Wayne, Indiana, responded to a horrific scene at a residence on Holton Avenue following reports of gunshots and a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of three individuals and a critically injured survivor. The victims were identified as 37-year-old Consuela Arrington, her 18-year-old son Traeven Harris, and her 18-year-old daughter Dajahiona Arrington.
Among the deceased was also Dajahiona’s unborn son, a male near-term fetus named Adaunis Arrington who died as a result of the fatal injuries sustained by his mother.
The violent attack was discovered by a family member who had been in the basement of the home and fled to call for help after hearing the commotion. When authorities secured the scene, they found 20-year-old Marcus Dansby covered in blood and standing near the victims. Dansby, who had previously been in a relationship with Dajahiona Arrington, was immediately taken into custody. The investigation revealed that the victims had been shot and stabbed multiple times. A fourth victim, 14-year-old Trinity Hairston, suffered severe stab wounds and gunshot injuries but survived the assault after undergoing emergency surgery.
Marcus Dansby was arrested and subsequently charged with four counts of murder, including the death of the unborn child, and one count of attempted murder. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty, citing the aggravating circumstances of the multiple killings and the death of the fetus, which was determined to be of viable age. The motive was reported to be linked to a dispute regarding the paternity of the unborn child and the end of the relationship between Dansby and Dajahiona.
In May 2019, to avoid the death penalty, Dansby entered a guilty plea to all charges. During the legal proceedings, he admitted to the slayings of Consuela, Traeven, Dajahiona, and Adaunis Arrington, as well as the attack on the survivor. In July 2019, an Allen County judge sentenced Dansby to a total of 300 years in prison, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life incarcerated for the massacre that claimed the lives of three generations of the family.
