VIDEO: South Bend Police discuss homicide investigation into death of Alexis Morales
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Morales's vehicle was found in the 400 block of S. Bendix at 6:04 p.m. Tuesday evening.
A resident in the area called in the tip about the vehicle.
Inside the vehicle, they found Alexis deceased and 5-month-old Messiah alive. Messiah was taken to the hospital. Messiah is still at the hospital, the chief said.
Alexis and Messiah had been reported missing on April 13 and a Silver Alert was issued on April 18.
Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski said the Silver Alert was issued after the family spoke with the officers who work with SBPD missing persons and violent crimes. There are specific criteria when an Amber Alert or Silver Alert was issued. Those standards are set by the Indiana State Police.
Chief Ruszkowski would not speculate on the length of time the vehicle was at that location or the length of time Alexis was deceased.
They determined it was a homicide while processing the scene and visible injuries on Alexis, investigators said. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
They are working with Elkhart County on the investigation.
If you have any information in this case, please contact the South Bend Police Department Detective Bureau at 574-235-9263 or Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.