10/22/2014 AT 07:45 PM EDT
Darren Deon Vann, 43 – who is a convicted sex offender – has been cooperating with authorities in hopes of negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors in connection with the deaths of seven women, according to press reports. As a result, the suspect has been “giving descriptions, cooperating and accompanying us to locations,” says Hammond, Indiana, Police Chief John D. Doughty.
Doughty went on to say that the Indiana-born Vann has not indicated a motive, other than saying his crimes could span two decades.
Vann helped the cops to find the bodies of six victims in Gary, Indiana, after he was arrested for the strangulation murder of Afrikka Hardy, 19, in a Hammond hotel. Three other victims have been identified as Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville, who had been missing since Oct. 8, as well as Teaira Batey, 28, and Christine Williams, 36.
Hammond police said Vann found victims via backpage.com. He used a text message to order a prostitute through the website, and that is what helped authorities track him down after finding Hardy’s body.
Vann told police he “messed up” and reportedly expressed surprise that he was located so quickly.
In 2009, Vann was convicted of aggravated rape from a 2007 case in Austin, Texas. He served five years in jail and then headed to Indiana in June 2013, according to police.
