Last Sunday my co-worker's niece was murdered by her boyfriend. I just wish she had a gun. What was even worse is her mother was on the phone with her when her boyfriend attacked her, and she heard the whole thing: Two women gruesomely killed in Indianapolis by partners with violent histories, police say
"Two women killed last weekend in Indianapolis. Two gruesome crime scenes on the north side. And two men, now facing murder charges, with histories of violence.
On Saturday morning, 37-year-old Sarah Serna was found dead on a couch inside a boarding house apartment. Nearby, police recovered a sledgehammer, the apparent murder weapon.
On Sunday evening, 19-year-old Liv Harrison died after police say her boyfriend stabbed her at least 28 times. A blood-soaked knife, containing a seven-and-a-half inch blade, laid near her body."
Liv Harrison
Around 6 p.m. on Sunday, officers were called to a house in the 1700 block of Stevenson Street on the north side.
The front door was open, according to a probable cause affidavit. Officers were greeted with the sounds of a woman screaming: "Break down the door!"
Officers pushed open a bedroom door.
They saw 19-year-old Liv Harrison sprawled across the floor, the affidavit said, her body covered in stab wounds and cuts.
Above her stood 26-year-old Ronald Tucker Jr., knife in hand. A female relative of Tucker's stood nearby.
Officers tried to separate Tucker from the witness while commanding him to drop the knife, court documents say.
Tucker didn't. Instead, he first cut his own throat, police said. Then he tried to stab himself in the stomach.
A officer used a stun gun, which sent Tucker to the ground. Still, he fought officers, even spitting blood into an officer's face and mouth.
Eventually, officers arrested him, which began by taking him to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment.
Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy found 28 injuries on her body. Her death was caused by injuries to her head and neck, according to the coroner.
Investigators interviewed Tucker's relative, who said she shared the home with Tucker and Harrison. Harrison had been there for six months, the relative said, and she and Tucker had been arguing recently about Harrison's desire to return to California, where she's from.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers say Ronald Tucker Jr, 26, fatally stabbed Liv Harrison. (Photo: Provided by IMPD)
On Sunday, Harrison returned home from work with a few friends, the relative said, and talked again about wanting to return to California. That angered Tucker.
As Harrison gathered her belongings in a bedroom, the two started arguing. There was no physical contact, the relative said, until Tucker started stabbing Harrison with a knife.
The relative pleaded with Tucker to stop, she said, but Tucker continued stabbing. When the relative tried to escape the room, Tucker moved in front of the door frame to block her exit.
Tucker declined to speak with detectives, but one officer said Tucker said: "I killed her but I loved her."
He's under police custody while at Eskenazi Hospital. He's facing charges of murder, criminal confinement, intimidation and battery.
"We grieve for the family of the victim and encourage anyone in a violent relationship to reach out for help," IMPD Chief Bryan Roach said in a statement. "Abusive behavior should not be tolerated in any home, especially behind the guise of love."
That same relative experienced violence at the hands of Tucker just a year ago, according to court documents.
Around 2:45 a.m. Nov. 9, 2017, Tucker fired a gun inside the home, according to a police report, and began arguing with the relative.
She told police that she tried to take the gun away. Tucker responded by pushing her to the ground, the relative said. Then he started choking her.
Prosecutors dropped three Level 6 felony charges and one misdemeanor charge in exchange for Tucker's plea to domestic violence, a misdemeanor. Tucker was sentenced to 359 days on probation.
Then on Nov. 8 of this year, Tucker was sentenced in a case of resisting law enforcement and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. A judge suspended his driver's license and required Tucker to attend classes on drunken driving and anger management. He also was placed on probation for 541 days.
Just 10 days later, however, Tucker was found with the knife, standing above Harrison's body.
Lizzy Statzer, a friend who worked with Harrison at a local Starbucks, said Harrison was new to the area but quickly made friends at work. She started working there in October.
“Because of the type of person she was, everyone just fell in love with her immediately,” Statzer said. “She was always in a good mood, trying to make others happy.”
Two of their coworkers were outside the home when Harrison died, Statzer said.
Everyone is taking it hard, Statzer said, her voice breaking as she spoke with IndyStar.
"We all got together," Statzer said, "just to remember her and try to support one another."
Harrison was well-loved, Statzer said, even in the short time she spent in Indianapolis.
On Saturday morning, 37-year-old Sarah Serna was found dead on a couch inside a boarding house apartment. Nearby, police recovered a sledgehammer, the apparent murder weapon.
On Sunday evening, 19-year-old Liv Harrison died after police say her boyfriend stabbed her at least 28 times. A blood-soaked knife, containing a seven-and-a-half inch blade, laid near her body."
Liv Harrison
Around 6 p.m. on Sunday, officers were called to a house in the 1700 block of Stevenson Street on the north side.
The front door was open, according to a probable cause affidavit. Officers were greeted with the sounds of a woman screaming: "Break down the door!"
Officers pushed open a bedroom door.
They saw 19-year-old Liv Harrison sprawled across the floor, the affidavit said, her body covered in stab wounds and cuts.
Above her stood 26-year-old Ronald Tucker Jr., knife in hand. A female relative of Tucker's stood nearby.
Officers tried to separate Tucker from the witness while commanding him to drop the knife, court documents say.
Tucker didn't. Instead, he first cut his own throat, police said. Then he tried to stab himself in the stomach.
A officer used a stun gun, which sent Tucker to the ground. Still, he fought officers, even spitting blood into an officer's face and mouth.
Eventually, officers arrested him, which began by taking him to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment.
Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy found 28 injuries on her body. Her death was caused by injuries to her head and neck, according to the coroner.
Investigators interviewed Tucker's relative, who said she shared the home with Tucker and Harrison. Harrison had been there for six months, the relative said, and she and Tucker had been arguing recently about Harrison's desire to return to California, where she's from.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers say Ronald Tucker Jr, 26, fatally stabbed Liv Harrison. (Photo: Provided by IMPD)
On Sunday, Harrison returned home from work with a few friends, the relative said, and talked again about wanting to return to California. That angered Tucker.
As Harrison gathered her belongings in a bedroom, the two started arguing. There was no physical contact, the relative said, until Tucker started stabbing Harrison with a knife.
The relative pleaded with Tucker to stop, she said, but Tucker continued stabbing. When the relative tried to escape the room, Tucker moved in front of the door frame to block her exit.
Tucker declined to speak with detectives, but one officer said Tucker said: "I killed her but I loved her."
He's under police custody while at Eskenazi Hospital. He's facing charges of murder, criminal confinement, intimidation and battery.
"We grieve for the family of the victim and encourage anyone in a violent relationship to reach out for help," IMPD Chief Bryan Roach said in a statement. "Abusive behavior should not be tolerated in any home, especially behind the guise of love."
That same relative experienced violence at the hands of Tucker just a year ago, according to court documents.
Around 2:45 a.m. Nov. 9, 2017, Tucker fired a gun inside the home, according to a police report, and began arguing with the relative.
She told police that she tried to take the gun away. Tucker responded by pushing her to the ground, the relative said. Then he started choking her.
Prosecutors dropped three Level 6 felony charges and one misdemeanor charge in exchange for Tucker's plea to domestic violence, a misdemeanor. Tucker was sentenced to 359 days on probation.
Then on Nov. 8 of this year, Tucker was sentenced in a case of resisting law enforcement and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. A judge suspended his driver's license and required Tucker to attend classes on drunken driving and anger management. He also was placed on probation for 541 days.
Just 10 days later, however, Tucker was found with the knife, standing above Harrison's body.
Lizzy Statzer, a friend who worked with Harrison at a local Starbucks, said Harrison was new to the area but quickly made friends at work. She started working there in October.
“Because of the type of person she was, everyone just fell in love with her immediately,” Statzer said. “She was always in a good mood, trying to make others happy.”
Two of their coworkers were outside the home when Harrison died, Statzer said.
Everyone is taking it hard, Statzer said, her voice breaking as she spoke with IndyStar.
"We all got together," Statzer said, "just to remember her and try to support one another."
Harrison was well-loved, Statzer said, even in the short time she spent in Indianapolis.
Last edited:
