Suspected serial killer Darren Vann charged in 2nd death

CROWN POINT, IN -- A man police suspect of as many as seven murders in northwest Indiana has been charged with a second.

Darren D. Vann is charged with murder, murder in perpetration of a robbery, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury in the death of Anith Jones of Merrillville, Ind.

Jones was the first victim located in Gary after suspected serial killer Vann, 43, was arrested and began describing locations where he left bodies.

Vann is held in contempt of court after he refused to speak during his first court appearance Wednesday morning since allegedly confessing to killing seven women in northwest Indiana.

According to investigators from Gary, Hammond and the FBI, Vann has been cooperative and communicative from the moment he was taken into custody. But on Wednesday, that communication broke down as the man charged with two murders and suspected in five others refused to open his mouth in court during his arraignment.

Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan gave Vann three opportunities to answer her question as to whether he was prepared to answer truthfully, but Vann stood silent. Sullivan then said, "You'll stay in jail for the rest of your life until this hearing is held." Again, Vann did not respond.

He reportedly asked his lawyer before the hearing why so many reporters were present and why the proceeding was being held in a secure courtroom. It's an about-face from a man who, by all accounts, was eager to share information with authorities before now.

"All I can say is that his demeanor here while he's been incarcerated has been calm and quiet and collected. And this morning was the first indication where he tried to be disruptive or uncooperative," Lake County Sheriff John Buncich said.

The judge asked Vann to identify himself several times and each time he would not respond, so she held him in contempt of court. She also imposed a gag order on everyone associated with the case, meaning that police cannot talk about the investigation and Vann is not to be spoken to unless he requests the communication or his attorney is present.

The hearing was rescheduled for next Wednesday, October 29. Until Vann agrees to partake in his arraignment, he can be jailed indefinitely.

On Monday, Vann was charged in the murder of Afrikka Hardy, 19, who was found strangled in a Hammond motel room Friday night. Following his arrest, he took police to six other crime scenes, mostly abandoned homes in Gary, where he said he had dumped the bodies.

Three of those six bodies have been identified as Anith Jones, 35; Teaira Batey, 28; and Kristine Williams, 36. The other three bodies remain Jane Does. Charges are pending the full autopsy results in those six cases.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.