Newspaper deliverer finds body in yard

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Fourth of July holiday weekend will be a sad one for an east side family. Friday morning, they learned a loved one had been gunned down and found about a block from his home.

Blood stains in the grass show where the body of 48-year-old Stephen Anthony McCloud lay before a newspaper delivery person found him just before dawn at 3801 N. Campbell Avenue.

McCloud lived about a block from where his bullet-riddled body was found. His grief stricken family gathered at his home Friday.

"Big old teddy bear…he was sweet, always helping people. Loved us and we loved him," said Stephen's cousin, Vanessa McCloud.

But Willa McCloud said her son got involved with a bad crowd after suffering a brain injury that left him unable to work.

"He had gotten mugged about three years ago over there on Maryland. And they had done surgery on him and he had brain damage," said Willa.

Stephen McCloud's sister, Cheryl Kigen, said she will now raise her five-year-old niece and 14-year-old nephew. McCloud is also survived by a 21-year-old daughter.

Police said they have no suspect or motive in the case. They are asking for help from the public.

Anyone with information regarding the homicide is encouraged to contact police at 327-3475 or Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS.