A shocking murder case in Indianapolis has led to the arrest of a 45-year-old man who is accused of killing his girlfriend during an argument. Police say the suspect allegedly used the dull side of an ax to attack the woman and then left her body in the backyard of her home. Investigators were able to identify the suspect quickly with the help of witnesses and community members.
Woman found dead behind her home
The victim, 51-year-old Kimberly Stewart, was found dead on Tuesday night at her home on the 1300 block of South Lynhurst Drive in Indianapolis, Indiana.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the property around 11 p.m. after someone reported an unresponsive woman.
When police arrived, they discovered Stewart lying in the backyard with injuries that suggested she had suffered severe physical trauma. Authorities confirmed she had already died before emergency responders arrived.
An autopsy later determined that Stewart died from blunt force trauma.
Suspect identified as boyfriend
Police identified Stewart’s boyfriend, 45-year-old Travis Wolfe, as the main suspect in the case.
Court records show that Wolfe has been charged with murder in connection with Stewart’s death. He also faces an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
After his arrest, Wolfe was taken to the Marion County Adult Detention Center, where he is currently being held without bond.
Couple reportedly argued frequently
Investigators believe Stewart and Wolfe were both on the property the day of the killing.
Stewart lived inside the house, while Wolfe reportedly stayed in the garage on the property.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the couple had a history of arguments. A friend told police they often fought.
Just one day before the incident, the two reportedly argued about a water pump Wolfe had installed in a BMW.
The same friend described Wolfe as someone who frequently threatened others and sometimes acted unpredictably.
According to police documents, the friend claimed Wolfe had recently been threatening to kill people and yelling at neighbors. He also believed others were “out to get him.”
The suspect was also known to carry an ax around the property, according to investigators.
Friend discovered the victim’s body
The person who discovered Stewart’s body was a close friend who had known her for about 10 years. The two often worked together selling vehicles.
On Tuesday afternoon, the friend sent Stewart a message saying he planned to stop by her house to pick up a car title for a vehicle they had sold.
When he arrived around 4:30 p.m., Stewart did not answer his messages. Her blue Dodge Nitro was parked in the driveway, but she was not responding.
At first, the friend was not too concerned. Stewart worked overnight shifts at a UPS distribution center and often slept during the day.
Later that night, he tried again and went back to the house around 11 p.m.
Strange signs around the house
When the friend arrived the second time, several things seemed unusual.
Stewart’s dog was outside, which was strange because the animal usually stayed indoors. The dog appeared agitated and kept barking toward the garage.
The back door of the house was also locked, which was unusual.
When the friend checked the garage, he noticed Wolfe was not there either. According to the friend, Wolfe rarely left the property.
Body discovered near fence and spa
The friend then called Stewart’s phone and followed the sound of it ringing.
As he moved toward the backyard, he discovered her body lying between a wooden fence and an outdoor spa.
Police later reported that her body was stiff and cool when it was found.
Authorities quickly began a homicide investigation.
Witness reported hearing woman scream
Another witness helped investigators build the case.
A man told police he was standing in his driveway around 10:30 p.m. when he heard a woman scream.
He then saw a man standing between the fence and spa area swinging something toward the ground.
The witness said the man was also shouting at a dog to “shut up.”
Police later identified the man seen by the witness as Travis Wolfe.
Suspect arrested hours later
Within about three hours of discovering Stewart’s body, police located Wolfe roughly 12 miles away in Indianapolis near East 19th Street and North Drexel Avenue.
He was found inside a BMW and was taken into custody.
During questioning, Wolfe reportedly told police that he and Stewart had argued earlier. He claimed he left the house in her Dodge Nitro but returned because the vehicle was nearly out of gas. He then switched to driving the BMW.
Wolfe denied attacking Stewart with an ax.
However, investigators say witness statements and other evidence led them to charge him with murder.
Community help played key role
Police officials credited the community for helping them quickly identify the suspect.
According to Deputy Chief Kendale Adams of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, witness information and the work of detectives were critical in building the case.
Authorities said one detective spent several hours working continuously to gather evidence and ensure the case moved forward quickly.
