Detroit woman found dead in Bloomington

Bloomington police are investigating the killing of a Detroit woman who was found dead in a West Side house Sunday evening.\nPolice identified the woman as Shantay D. Elliott, 23. Police arrived at 911 N. Blair Ave. at about 9 p.m. Sunday. According to police reports, they were responding to a call from a family member to check on Elliott, from whom the relative hadn't heard in two or three days. \nShe had been dead for some time when police arrived, according to police. \nFamily members identified her body Tuesday, and an autopsy at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis determined she was strangled.\nBloomington Police Sgt. Bill Parker said police have no suspects and haven't determined a motive. Police don't know exactly when the woman died, Parker said.\nElliot is not believed to have lived at the house, which is owned by Valerie Williams, who does live there.\nWilliams was arrested early Friday morning and booked into the Monroe County Correctional Center on preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance. She is being held in lieu of $2,000 surety and $500 cash bond. \nNeighbor Violet Hacker has lived on Blair Avenue for 30 years and just made her final mortgage payment last month. She is retired and living at home. Hacker did not know the victim or the owner of the home, but she said she was shocked by the news. Since then, she said, she's had trouble sleeping at night.\n"It scared me to death," Hacker said.\nAlthough Hacker said she always felt the neighborhood was safe, she locks her doors and windows. She could not recall much crime in the neighborhood in previous years. Despite the strangling, she plans to stay in the neighborhood.\nPolice and detectives are investigating. Anyone with information should contact Bloomington Police Detective Rick Crussen or Capt. Joe Qualters at 349-3306.