Rensselaer death investigation officially a homicide case

RENSSELAER, Ind. (WLFI) – The death of a 77-year-old Rensselaer woman is now a homicide investigation. An autopsy performed on Trula Alliss Saturday determined the cause of death is blunt force trauma.

As WISH-TV News sister station WLFI News 18 previously reported, Rensselaer Police responded to a report of a possible dead woman inside an apartment Thursday night, and found Alliss dead.

The death was then ruled suspicious by police.

Police believe sometime between February 3 at noon and February 5 at 5 p.m., someone entered Alliss’ apartment at the 900 block of B-Mar Drive and killed her.

The possibility of a sexual assault has not been ruled out, and police are waiting for lab results to confirm an assault.

There are no suspects at this time.

Police have increased patrols in the area of Alliss’ apartment.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Rensselaer Police Department at 219-866-7602.