Digest

This episode of The Deck delves into the unsolved murder of Maria Del Secoro, Maldonado Ambries, a single mother of two from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The episode begins with a detailed account of the events leading up to Maria's death, starting with a flurry of calls to the Fort Wayne Police Department on January 29th, 2022. A frantic woman reported that her employer's children had called to say their mother had been abducted, followed by reports of shots fired in the same area and a vehicle crash. Police arrived at the scene of the crash to find Maria deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. The investigation revealed that Maria had been abducted from her home at gunpoint, with her children present. The children provided a description of the suspect, who demanded money and then took Maria hostage. The suspect was captured on video fleeing the scene with a rifle. Detectives initially believed the motive to be robbery, but the excessive number of bullets fired into Maria's car raised suspicions of a more personal motive. The investigation led detectives to Maria's ex-husband and a friend, both of whom were cleared. Despite extensive investigation, including DNA and cell phone tracking, the case remains unsolved. A significant tip came from the sister of the suspect's girlfriend, who claimed her sister had said her boyfriend was responsible for Maria's death. The suspect, identified as Xavier, refused to cooperate with detectives and is currently incarcerated for a separate murder. While Xavier remains a person of interest, detectives are still seeking answers and hope that someone will come forward with information that can bring justice to Maria's family.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the case of Maria Del Secoro, Maldonado Ambries, a single mother of two from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who was abducted and murdered in January 2022. The episode begins with a description of the events leading up to Maria's death, including the frantic calls to the police department and the discovery of her body at the scene of a vehicle crash.

00:00:49

The Abduction and Murder

This Chapter details the events of the abduction and murder of Maria. The children recount the events of the home invasion, including the suspect's demands for money and the abduction of Maria. The chapter also describes the evidence found at the scene, including shell casings and video footage of the suspect fleeing the scene.

00:10:50

The Investigation

This Chapter focuses on the investigation into Maria's murder. Detectives discuss the initial theory of robbery, but the excessive number of bullets fired into Maria's car raises suspicions of a more personal motive. The investigation leads detectives to Maria's ex-husband and a friend, both of whom are cleared. The chapter also discusses the use of DNA and cell phone tracking in the investigation.

00:15:16

A Potential Suspect

This Chapter introduces a potential suspect in Maria's murder. A woman comes forward with a tip that her sister's boyfriend, identified as Xavier, claimed to be responsible for Maria's death. Xavier is currently incarcerated for a separate murder, but detectives are still investigating his possible involvement in Maria's case.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happened to Maria Del Secoro, Maldonado Ambries?

  Maria was abducted from her home at gunpoint and later found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident occurred on January 29th, 2022, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

• What was the initial motive believed to be in Maria's murder?

  Detectives initially believed the motive to be robbery, as the suspect demanded money from Maria and her children. However, the excessive number of bullets fired into Maria's car raised suspicions of a more personal motive.

• Who is Xavier and why is he a person of interest in Maria's case?

  Xavier is a man who is currently incarcerated for a separate murder. He is a person of interest in Maria's case because a woman came forward with a tip that Xavier's girlfriend had said he was responsible for Maria's death. Xavier refused to cooperate with detectives and is still being investigated in connection with Maria's case.

• What evidence has been collected in Maria's case?

  Detectives have collected a lot of evidence from both the scene near Maria's vehicle and her house, including shell casings, fingerprints, DNA samples, and digital evidence such as cell phone records and security camera footage.

• What is the current status of Maria's case?

  Maria's murder remains unsolved, and detectives are still seeking answers. They are hopeful that someone will come forward with information that can bring justice to Maria's family.

• What can listeners do to help solve Maria's case?

  Listeners are encouraged to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department's Detectives Bureau at 260-427-1201 or Crime Stoppers at 260-436-STOP if they have any information, even the smallest detail, that could help solve the case.

Show Notes