Gary man sentenced to century behind bars in 2019 murder of Chicago Heights woman

GARY, Ind. — A Gary, Indiana man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend in 2019 will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.

A judge on Wednesday issued a 101-year prison sentence to Drew Carter, who, in June of this year, was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Jessica Flores, a mother of six.

Police believe Flores was killed in Gary before officers discovered her remains in an area park in 2020. Authorities located a car linked to the then-26-year-old found torched in a Chicago alley. Court documents obtained by the Chicago Tribune also found a large amount of blood in the back seat of the car.

Carter was released in early 2023 due to a law in Indiana that protects defendants while awaiting trial, prompting backlash from family members.

Loved ones of Flores attended the Oct. 9 sentencing.

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