A man suspected of killing and dismembering his roommate in Indiana six years ago was apprehended in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
John Hallett, 54, was detained, on Thursday, by federal, state, and local law enforcement, according to Massachusetts State Police.
Last year, investigators in Michigan City identified him as the individual responsible for the 2017 death of his roommate, Paul Gonzales, 64.
After the killing, investigators say Hallett dismembered the body and disposed of the remains in trash cans.
An arrest warrant for murder had been issued for Hallett after a cadaver dog discovered some remains in the basement of the home where Hallett and the victim had lived.
Michigan City Police issued the following information:
Detective Lieutenant Anna Painter initiated a criminal investigation on August 29th, 2022, after receiving information that a homicide had possibly occurred inside a residence in the 1000 block of West 9th Street in Michigan City back on November 2017. Detectives from the Investigative Division executed multiple search warrants at the residence in 2022 and collected numerous items of evidence. Two different search and rescue detection K9s were also used at this residence while the search warrant was being executed. Countless interviews were conducted by investigators while multiple forensic examinations took place on the evidence that was collected with assistance from the Indiana State Police Laboratory and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
Detective Lieutenant Painter worked quickly to identify the victim and suspect shortly after the investigation was initiated. She learned that 64-year-old Michigan City resident Paul Gonzales was identified as the victim and there was evidence his body was mutilated after the homicide occurred. 48-year-old Michigan City resident John Hallett was identified as the suspect after all the evidence was thoroughly reviewed and analyzed.
Detective Lieutenant Painter eventually presented her investigation to the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Officeon August 7th, 2023 for a probable cause review. LaPorte County Superior Court 1 Judge Jaime Oss found probable cause on August 8th, 2023, to charge Hallett with one count of Murder and one count of Abuse of Corpse (Level 6 Felony). An arrest warrant was then issued for Hallett with the condition of no bond.
The Michigan City Police Department’s Warrants Division, Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST) and the United States Marshals Service developed information after Hallett’s arrest warrant was issued that he was in the Cambridge, Massachusetts area. The United States Marshals Service in Boston, Massachusetts worked with the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Police Department and Massachusetts State Police to locate Hallett at a residence on Chester Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Hallett was taken into custody by the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Police Department on August 24th, 2023 at 10:45 A.M. Central Standard Time and transported to the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction located in Billerica, Massachusetts where he is being held without bond. Hallett’s photo was unavailable at the time of his arrest. He is currently awaiting extradition to the LaPorte County Jail.
Chief Steven Forker would like to thank all the local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies who assisted with this investigation and took Hallett into custody. All the agencies and organizations who aided with this investigation include the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Cambridge (Massachusetts) Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, United States Marshals Service, Cheyenne (Wyoming) Police Department, Bellingham (Washington) Police Department, LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
We would also like to remind the public that you can contact us via Facebook Messenger, through our crime tiphotline number of (219) 873-1488, or you can also call the WeTip Hotline for General Crime (800) 78-CRIME and possibly receive a reward upon an arrest and conviction. All WeTip call information is sent directly to the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. You can always request to remain anonymous!
Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
