Source: Love triangle caused violent crime spree

Police say four separate crime scenes are making investigation lengthy

August 23, 2011|By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com), Click here to become a fan of Kelli on Facebook | By Kelli Stopczynski (kstopczynski@wsbt.com), Click here to become a fan of Kelli on Facebook

Elkhart – New details are emerging from a violent crime spree in Elkhart that left four people dead and three others in the hospital Monday morning. A source close to the investigation told WSBT investigators believe it involved a love triangle between the two women brutally stabbed in separate homes, a person in the home that was intentionally set on fire and the suspect, who apparently took his own life in a car fire.

Fire investigators said someone rigged a 20-pound propane tank – the kind you’d find on a gas grill – with an explosive and tossed it through the dining room window of a Grant Street home where eight people slept.

“Through our investigation what we determined was a propane tank was found on the scene that wasn't supposed to be there, and it was in a place that it should not have been,” said Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Edgerton. “Witness accounts were that they heard something that sounded like air was escaping from what they thought were tires.”

A neighbor also told investigators he saw a car speed away from the scene shortly after they heard something crash through a window.

Jose Aguilar, 38 and his sons – Ricardo, 13 and Adolfo, 7 – died in that fire. Flowers, toys and loving words currently pay tribute to them on a growing makeshift memorial outside the home.

WSBT also learned more about brutal stabbings of Maria Miranda, 30, and Maria Delores Aceituno Sanchez, 33.

“My understanding was there was an axe involved in one…I can imagine it was probably pretty horrific,” said Edgerton.

Both women were in stable condition at last report.

Police said they believe the fire and two stabbing scenes are related to a fourth, where a white Ford Mustang burst into flames in a soybean field off County Road 28 after being chased by police.

The driver died inside. Investigators said the car belonged to Francisco Macias, 31, but it could take days or weeks to figure out whether the badly charred body found inside is his.

Elkhart County Coroner John White told WSBT an autopsy on that body was scheduled for 12:45 Tuesday afternoon but he would not be able to determine the identity of the body because of the burns. White said the next step would be to use dental records if they were available. Beyond that, identification would have to be made through DNA records, which could take days or weeks, said White.

A source close to the investigation told WSBT Macias is believed to be the suspect responsible for the violent crime spree, but police said it’s too soon to confirm that.

“We believe all four crime scenes are connected,” said Elkhart Police spokeswoman Lt. Laura Koch. “To say why they're connected, we cannot comment right now because they're all under investigation.”

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