IN Man Kills Ex-Girlfriend While Out On Bond For Attempted Murder

HAMMOND, IN — Hammond police said a man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend in the 3600 block of Sheffield Avenue (Sheffield Estates) Thursday was arrested hours later in Missouri. Charles Anthony Goforth, 56, faces murder charges in Thursday's shooting death of 55-year-old Sylvia Williams, according to police. Police said Williams was the victim of a November 2019 shooting at the same address.

Goforth was out on a nearly $8,000 bond for the attempted murder of Williams, and came back to the home three months later and killed her, according to Northwest Indiana prosecutors.

Detectives with the Hammond Police Department, with assistance from the Independence, Missouri Police Department, arrested Goforth later Thursday while he was driving a car identified earlier by Hammond’s Blue Net license plate reader system. Goforth was taken back to Lake County, police added.

The Hammond Police Department said it grieves for Ms. Williams' family, and carries a heavy heart as prosecution moves forward.

In a Friday Facebook post, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said the system "failed" the victim in this case, which he called a very frustrating one.

"This violent felon should have never (SIC) been set free on bond in the first place," the Mayor wrote. "Bond reform and jail overcrowding doesn’t mean setting violent, dangerous felons being set free. These judges better get their heads on straight or more residents of NWI could also be in danger."