CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — A northwest Indiana man charged with strangling two women and who could face the death penalty if convicted is asking a judge to allow him to represent himself during the trial.

The (Munster) Times of Munster reports Lake County Criminal Judge Diane Boswell scheduled a hearing for Wednesday after 44-year-old Darren Vann of Gary wrote to the court indicating he wants to represent himself.

Vann previously had waived his right to be present at hearings.

Vann is charged with murder in the deaths of 19-year-old Afrikka Hardy and 35-year-old Anith Jones. Police have said that Vann confessed to having killed seven women whose remains were found in October 2014. He has only been charged in the deaths of Hardy and Jones.

Vann is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 25.