Indianapolis Uber Driver Charged with Murder in Passenger's Death

Rideshare Driver Faces Murder, Rape Charges After Missing Woman Found Dead on Southeast Side

Francisco Valadez, 29, pleaded not guilty Monday in Marion County Court to charges of murder, rape, and abuse of a corpse in the death of 30-year-old Chanti Dixon. Dixon’s body was discovered on September 9 near a wooded area in the 1800 block of Wagner Lane after she ordered an Uber ride early Sunday morning. Court documents reveal Valadez, who worked as an Uber driver, admitted to shooting Dixon in his vehicle after picking her up from work around 3:30 a.m. on September 8. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police located Valadez at his residence in the 4400 block of Aristocrat Circle following an investigation that began when Dixon’s family reported her missing Monday morning.

5 Key Points

• Police found Dixon’s body naked with gunshot wounds outside a home on Indianapolis’ southeast side.
• Valadez told detectives he shot Dixon in the head during an attempted sexual encounter in his car.
• The victim ordered the Uber ride after finishing work at approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
• IMPD Chief Chris Bailey called the crime “disgusting, disturbing” during a September 9 news conference.
• Uber permanently banned Valadez from their platform after his arrest.

Discovery Prompts Rapid Police Response in Residential Area

Officers responded to Wagner Lane, near East Raymond Street and South Sherman Drive, shortly after 1 p.m. on September 9 following reports of a body near a wooded area. IMPD Chief Chris Bailey addressed the gravity of the situation during a news conference that day, stating, “This is disgusting, disturbing, and no one deserves to be treated this way.” The discovery location raised additional concerns for law enforcement, as IMPD Assistant Chief Catherine Cummings noted the crime occurred “in a residential neighborhood with children getting off the bus nearby.”

Victim Remembered as Devoted Mother by Neighbors

Neighbor Javona Hines, who lived across from Dixon, described the victim as a recent arrival to the neighborhood who focused on her family. “She just moved over here and seemed like a pretty good woman. She stayed to herself. She was with her kids and her little dog,” Hines said. The neighbor expressed concern for Dixon’s children, adding, “I feel bad for her kids. I feel really bad because now, they don’t have a mother.”

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Police Detail Timeline of Final Ride

According to court documents, Dixon ordered an Uber after leaving work around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 8. Investigators traced the ride to Valadez and located him at his home in the 4400 block of Aristocrat Circle, near East 46th Street and North Mitthoefer Road. During questioning, detectives say Valadez admitted to shooting Dixon in his vehicle, claiming he became angry over a comment she made during an attempted sexual encounter.

IMPD Issues New Rideshare Safety Guidelines

Assistant Chief Cummings addressed public safety concerns at the September 9 press conference, emphasizing that “women, girls, mothers have a right to exist in our community without fear of something heinous happening.” She advised riders to verify their vehicle, use the app’s ride-sharing feature, and trust their instincts in unsafe situations. The department has requested that anyone who previously encountered Valadez as a driver contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.