Docs: Woman’s body found in plastic tub in east side basement

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Formal charges have been filed for the murder of 34-year-old Martha Cronkhite who was found dead in an east side home.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested 32-year-old Stephen Jones in connection to the murder on Tuesday.

According to court documents, Cronkhite was found in the basement of the home in a plastic tub with several gunshot wounds and abrasions to her body. The court documents also say that she was wrapped in a plastic trash bag.

Police located several shell casings near her body.

The court documents also say that police were notified of Cronkhite from a 911 caller. The caller told police she was inside the home and found Cronkhite in the basement after the shooting happened.

According to police, she fled the home from a bedroom window because she feared Jones was going to shoot her.

The coroner’s report showed Cronkhite death was the result of several injures, including blunt force trauma to her face and head and lacerations to her arms, nose and face. The coroner said she also had three gunshot wounds.

Jones was charged with murder and was booked into the Marion County Jail. His next court date is set for Sept. 2.