UPDATE: The trial has just commenced for Dennis Jelks, a 60-year-old man from Merrillville, who stands accused of murdering his estranged girlfriend, Angela Carrier, 37, in a shocking case that has captivated the community since early 2021. Jelks, who has pleaded not guilty, faces serious charges related to Carrier’s mysterious disappearance and subsequent death.
The case began to unfold on January 26, 2021, when Carrier, accompanied by family members, went to the Merrillville Menards around 1:30 PM to retrieve personal belongings from Jelks after their breakup. Authorities allege that Jelks convinced Carrier to leave the store with him, and she was never seen alive again.
Just days later, on January 30, Carrier’s body was discovered, shot twice in the back of the head, near the intersection of 30th Avenue and Jackson Street. A firearms expert indicated that the bullets likely came from a .38-caliber or .357-caliber handgun. Alarmingly, family members of Carrier informed police that Jelks had a history of abuse and possessed a firearm in his vehicle.
Jelks claimed that after leaving Menards, he took Carrier to buy marijuana from an individual known as “Tone.” However, he reported losing track of her when two car doors opened and a black car whisked her away. He called 911 shortly after, but Detective Nick Wardrip dismissed Jelks’s account as unsupported by evidence. Cell phone data revealed that Jelks’s phone pinged at Menards before moving to the area near where Carrier’s body was found, raising serious questions about his story.
In court, Deputy Prosecutors Infinity Westberg and Chris Bruno emphasized the couple’s tumultuous relationship, asserting that Jelks was the last person seen with Carrier alive. They pointed out that he “repeatedly lied” to law enforcement, friends, and family. In contrast, Jelks’s defense attorney, Michael Lambert, argued that the prosecution lacked direct or physical evidence linking Jelks to the crime, claiming they constructed a narrative based on circumstantial evidence and unreliable testimony.
The tension escalated as prosecutors played a recorded phone call made by Carrier’s stepfather, Shannon Smith, who expressed his concerns about Jelks’s involvement after her disappearance. “Dude, you got something to do with it,” Smith confronted Jelks during the call. This moment highlights the emotional turmoil faced by Carrier’s family, who were devastated by her sudden disappearance.
Carrier’s son, Caleb, described the relationship as “toxic,” revealing that they were in the process of breaking up when the tragedy occurred. He, alongside Smith, had accompanied Carrier to retrieve her mail from Jelks, adding a layer of desperation to their efforts to secure her safety.
Further complicating the narrative, Carrier’s daughter, Shianne Carrier, noted inconsistencies in Jelks’s account, particularly regarding the color of the vehicle involved. She frequently attempted to contact her mother, making over a thousand calls, but to no avail.
As the trial unfolds, the community awaits further developments in this heartbreaking case. The emotional weight of the proceedings is palpable, with family members present in court, seeking justice for Angela Carrier.
What happens next in this high-stakes trial could determine the fate of Dennis Jelks and provide closure to Carrier’s grieving family. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
