INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — An Indiana man has been charged with murder after police say he killed his girlfriend and left her body in the backyard of her home, where a concerned friend later discovered her while searching for her after she stopped responding to messages.
Authorities say Travis Wolfe, 45, is accused of killing Kimberly Stewart, 51, during an argument outside her home in Indianapolis. According to court records, Wolfe has been charged with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
Police say the victim’s body was discovered late Tuesday night in the backyard near a wooden fence and an outdoor spa, after a friend followed the sound of her phone ringing.
Wolfe is currently being held in the Marion County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Friend’s Concern Leads to Grim Discovery
Investigators say the disturbing discovery began when a close friend of Stewart attempted to reach her earlier that day.
The two had reportedly known each other for about 10 years and had recently sold a vehicle together.
According to police, the friend planned to stop by Stewart’s home on South Lynhurst Drive to pick up paperwork related to the sale.
When he first arrived around 4:30 p.m., Stewart did not answer the door or respond to messages.
Although unusual, the friend initially assumed she might be sleeping because she worked overnight shifts at a UPS distribution center.
However, when he returned later that night, he noticed several things that didn’t seem right.
Dog’s Behavior Raises Suspicion
According to investigators, when the friend arrived just before 11 p.m., he noticed Stewart’s dog outside the house — something he said rarely happened.
The dog reportedly began barking aggressively toward the garage area, and the home’s back door was unexpectedly locked.
The friend also noted that Wolfe, who reportedly lived in the garage on the property, was not present.
Investigators said the friend became increasingly concerned and decided to call Stewart’s phone.
As the phone rang, he followed the sound through the backyard.
Ringtone Leads to Victim’s Body
According to court documents, the ringing led the friend to a horrifying discovery.
The phone’s ringtone guided him to Stewart’s body lying between a wooden fence and an outdoor spa.
Police say the victim was stiff and cold to the touch, indicating she had been dead for some time.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to the home shortly after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman around 11 p.m.
Officers arriving at the scene found Stewart in the backyard with visible injuries consistent with severe trauma.
Officials confirmed she had died before police arrived.
Autopsy Reveals Cause of Death
Investigators later determined that Stewart died from blunt force trauma, according to police.
Authorities believe the injuries were caused by the dull side of an ax, which Wolfe was allegedly known to carry.
Police said the couple had been involved in arguments before.
According to a friend, the pair had argued just the day before over a water pump Wolfe had installed in a BMW.
Witness Reported Hearing Disturbance
Another witness later told police he heard a disturbance around 10:30 p.m. the night of the incident.
The man said he heard a woman yelling, followed by sounds of someone striking the ground near the backyard fence and spa area.
The witness reported seeing a man swinging an object toward the ground and yelling at a dog to “shut up.”
Investigators later identified that man as Wolfe.
Suspect Found Hours Later
After identifying Wolfe as a suspect, detectives quickly began searching for him.
Within three hours, officers located Wolfe roughly 12 miles away near East 19th Street and North Drexel Avenue in Indianapolis.
Police said he was found inside a BMW and was taken into custody.
During questioning, Wolfe allegedly admitted that he and Stewart had argued earlier but denied attacking her.
Investigators say he told them he initially left the home in Stewart’s Dodge Nitro, but returned when he realized the vehicle was low on fuel before switching to the BMW.
Authorities say the investigation and witness statements ultimately helped them secure the murder charge.
Police Credit Community for Quick Arrest
Officials praised the cooperation of witnesses who helped investigators quickly build the case.
“Thanks to the relentless work of our detectives and the courage of the community, a dangerous individual is in custody today,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Kendale Adams.
Wolfe was formally charged with murder just before 1 a.m. Thursday.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare the case for court.
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