Wheeling Police Department announced Friday afternoon, November 12, 2021 that an arrest warrant was approved by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for Ahmeel Fowler, age 26, of Pingree Grove connected to the homicide of Ms. Ja’nya Murphy. According to Wheeling police, Fowler was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation and was taken into custody at the request of the Wheeling Police Department in Springfield, Missouri on Wednesday evening, November 10, 2021.
Wheeling Police Department also announced that additional charges are anticipated.
Ahmeel Fowler is 6’1″ 195 LBS.
Daughter of Ja’nya Murphy of Inland Dr, Wheeling Found in Interchange Retention Pond at I-80 and Kennedy Dr, Hammond, Indiana
A body found in a retention pond Northwest Indiana on Thursday afternoon has now been positively identified as that of 1-year-old Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs – who had been missing since her mother was found dead in Wheeling earlier this week. CBS 2’s Marie Saavedra reports. YouTube Tips ⓘ
The body of missing girl Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs, age 1, of Wheeling was discovered Thursday, November 11, 2021 less that 48 hours after she was reported missing on Tuesday night, November 9, 2021. Her mother, Ja’nya Murphy, was found dead Tuesday night, but Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs was missing. Wheeling police revealed today that Ja’nya Murphy was murdered by strangulation.
Around noon Thursday, construction workers alerted police, reporting that a body was found in a retention pond near Interstate 80 and Kennedy Avenue in Hammond, Indiana. The girl’s body was taken to the Lake County (Indiana) Coroner’s Office; Wheeling police and the coroner’s office confirmed that the body was Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs. An autopsy for Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs was scheduled for Friday morning.
The body was located in a pond inside a cloverleaf interchange at the southeast ramp from I-80 EAST to northbound Kennedy Avenue in Hammond, Indiana.
The investigation now proceeds with evidence collection and processing at the mother and daughter’s residence at 365 Inland Drive in Wheeling, a location in Missouri that has not been precisely disclosed, and the I-80 interchange with Kennedy Avenue in Hammond Avenue.
Dodge Grand Caravan and Person of Interest Connected to Murder, Kidnapping Case on Inland Drive in Wheeling Found in Missouri
Wheeling, Illinois police were searching Wednesday for Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs, and were investigating a maroon 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan with Illinois license plate FP139293 in connection with the homicide of Ja’nya Murphy and the kidnapping of Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs. The Dodge Grand Caravan was later discovered in Missouri with no sign of Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs. Additional evidence was found inside the vehicle, and police are continuing the investigation. Initially the specific location in Missouri was not released by police.
Wheeling police described reconstructing the last hours of Ms. Ja’nya Murphy’s life with a focus on locating her missing daughter, Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs, and to find the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible for the crime.
Acting upon information uncovered, including video evidence obtained, investigators were able to identify a person of interest (Ahmeel Fowler) and the vehicle mentioned above. The person of interest (Ahmeel Fowler) had a previous relationship with Ms. Ja’nya Murphy, but is not Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs. Surveillance video evidence gathered at a suburban mall by Wheeling police indicates that Ms. Ja’nya Murphy and the Ahmeel Fowler were together on Monday, November 8, 2021. According to Wheeling Police Department, task force investigators learned that the Ahmeel Fowler had left Illinois. Late Wednesday, both the vehicle and (Ahmeel Fowler) were located in Missouri; however, the location of Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs was unknown Wednesday night, according to Wheeling police.
Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs was described as a 1-year-old female/black, 2 feet tall and weighing 24 LBS, with black hair and brown eyes.
According to Wheeling Police Department, on the evening of Wednesday, November 10, 2021, the Illinois State Police released an “Endangered Missing Persons Advisory Notification” in regards to Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs and Dodge Grand Caravan description. The notification is designed for situations which do not fit the criteria of an AMBER ALERT, but do involve a person who is missing and believed to be in danger.
Citizens with information about the homicide/kidnapping case are urged to contact the Wheeling Police Department at 847-459-2690 or call 9-1-1.
The vehicle connected to missing 1-year-old Jaclyn ‘Angel’ Dobbs in a homicide and kidnapping case has been found in Missouri. YouTube Tips ⓘ
Wheeling police initially responded about 10:22 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 to a report of a missing person with a residence at 365 Inland Drive in Wheeling. Family members became concerned that 21 year-old Ms. Ja’nya Murphy had not been to work, nor had she been in contact with family members since the previous day. Ms. Murphy lived with her one year-old daughter Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs at 365 Inland Drive in Wheeling. After initial attempts to contact Ms. Murphy failed, Wheeling police officers called for the assistance of the Wheeling Fire Department to access the balcony of Murphy’s residence. The door by the balcony was found unlocked.
When police entered the apartment for the check for Murphy’s well-being they discovered Ja’nya Murphy had apparently been murdered, and that Jaclyn “Angel” Dobbs was missing.
Wheeling Police Department along with the Northwest Suburban Major Crimes Assistance Team are actively working to secure the safe return of Angel, and to identify and apprehend the suspect or suspects responsible.
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The homicide victim, Ja’nya Murphy is a 2018 graduate of Stevenson High School and lived with her daughter in Wheeling.
The Wheeling Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Angel. There was no mention of an AMBER ALERT. Certain suspect information is required before an AMBER ALERT can be activated.
Wheeling Police Department urges anyone with information about the homicide and kidnapping case to call 847-459-2690 or call 9-1-1.
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The body of a missing 1-year-old girl from Wheeling was found Thursday in a Northwest Indiana retention pond off the interstate. YouTube Tips ⓘ