TERRE HAUTE —
The body of a female homicide victim found Saturday in rural eastern Vigo County has been identified as that of a Terre Haute resident.
The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday afternoon that dental records identify the victim as Allyson J. Elmi-Lewis, 39, who had resided in an apartment on North 14th Street in Terre Haute.
Chief Deputy Clark Cottom said that a family member reported the woman missing on Tuesday after seeing media reports about the homicide.
“The family reported that they had been unable to reach Allyson recently, and were concerned after hearing the description of the unidentified deceased female,” Cottom said in a news release.
Her estranged husband, Enzert G. Lewis, 38, was interviewed by sheriff’s detectives and was arrested early Wednesday for violation of a no-contact order in which Allyson was the victim.
Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt told the Tribune-Star that no criminal charge in connection with the homicide is now pending against Lewis.
Detectives learned that Lewis had been living with a family member in the 600 block of Monterey Avenue in Terre Haute.
Lewis was booked into the Vigo County Jail at 2:11 a.m. Wednesday. He is scheduled to appear in Vigo Superior Court 4 this morning for a hearing on the allegation of invasion of privacy.
Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr had determined through an autopsy on Monday that the woman had died as the result of blunt force trauma to the head. He ruled her death a homicide.
Her body was found Saturday evening by a passer-by traveling on Hyde Road/Clay County Road 700 West about a mile north of Indiana 42 at the Vigo-Clay County Line.
Sheriff Greg Ewing had assembled a team of more than 20 investigators, with assistance from the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and Vigo County Search and Rescue.
The investigation into the homicide is continuing. Investigators urge anyone with any information about Elmi-Lewis’ death to come forward, specifically details about her last known whereabouts before her death.
Any person having information should contact the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office at 812-462-3226. Anyone wanting to remain anonymous can call Wabash Valley Crime Stoppers at 812-238-STOP (7867).
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