Blood painted the walls of a home in Indianapolis where a tragic and violent crime took place on Monday morning. A woman was found brutally killed, and now a man is in custody, facing serious charges.
Regulus Baka, a 22-year-old, has been charged with murder, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The horror unfolded early on December 30. At around 5:43 a.m., the victim’s roommate made a distressing call to the police after discovering her lifeless body behind a bedroom door in their apartment on Ella Dobbs Lane, located on the south side of Indianapolis. According to court documents, the victim, identified as McDonald, had suffered severe head injuries. Emergency responders pronounced her dead shortly after arriving.
Inside the apartment, police encountered a gruesome scene. Blood was everywhere. A blood-soaked towel was found on the porch, and the signs of a violent struggle were clear. Near McDonald’s body, a blood-drenched plastic bag and a piece of clear tape stuck to her head added to the chilling evidence.
The roommate, shaken by the discovery, pointed investigators toward someone she believed could be responsible. Soon, the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place.
Around 4 a.m. that morning, a witness reported hearing a woman screaming for help. Maintenance workers later stumbled upon McDonald’s phone and laptop in a dumpster, both of which bore her name. Alongside them was a piece of clear tape stained with blood, eerily similar to the tape found on the victim.
This dumpster, located within view of a surveillance camera, provided a critical clue. Footage showed a man walking from the apartment complex, tossing something into the dumpster, and then leaving in a vehicle. Investigators linked this vehicle, a black Ford Fusion, to Baka’s family.
Traffic cameras caught the car four miles from the crime scene at around 4:33 a.m. It was later found parked at another apartment complex. When police tracked the vehicle’s owner, they learned Baka was reportedly staying at his parents’ home nearby.
When authorities arrived at Baka’s parents’ house, things took a tense turn. While others left the home, Baka initially refused to come out. The situation escalated, prompting police to call in a SWAT team, use a drone, and deploy a distraction device. Eventually, Baka surrendered.
As he stepped outside, officers asked if he was injured. His response: “Only from last night.”
During questioning, Baka reportedly waived his right to remain silent and spoke openly. He explained the complicated and toxic relationship he had with McDonald. He claimed she often mistreated him, accusing her of slapping him and threatening his family. On the night of the incident, he said things spiraled out of control after she slapped him multiple times and threatened to call someone to harm him.
According to Baka, the confrontation escalated when McDonald allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him. In response, he said he punched her repeatedly. He admitted to hitting her with a space heater and a kitchen pan after she fell to the floor, saying he “just wanted her dead.”
To ensure McDonald stopped breathing, Baka reportedly wrapped tape around her nose. He also admitted to stabbing her before disposing of key evidence, including her phone, laptop, and the roll of tape, in the dumpster.
Baka is currently being held in the Marion County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 3.
