The mystery of an Indianapolis woman who disappeared in the early hours of Sunday has been found safe after police captured the suspect, 27-year-old Daquan Mathews.
Rashonda Banks, 24, was chatting with her brother while sitting in his car when things suddenly took a turn for the worst.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Mathews appeared and pointed a handgun at Banks’ brother. He was able to flee the scene and heard gunshots as he headed for safety. When he returned to his car, his sister and his car were gone. Her brother went to the police and said that a Black man with dreadlocks was the culprit. He then proceeded to file a missing person report for his sister.
Banks’ brother disclosed that during the incident, Mathews hit Banks “at least 12 times” in the head with his handgun and continued to assault her.
“At one point Quan jumped on top of Rashonda in the passenger seat and began strangling her. Rashonda [said] she could not [breathe] and she felt like she was fading out of consciousness,” IMPD arresting officers wrote.
Authorities contacted the missing woman’s mother who said that the suspect may have been her daughter’s ex-boyfriend named Daquan. She further disclosed that he was known to frequent hotels throughout the city.
With the help of family, police found the suspect’s Facebook account under the name “Quan Dreadhead Freeawax” stating the account belonged to Banks’ ex-boyfriend.
“A search of the account showed it was associated with the name Daquan Mathews. A check of the IMPD database showed Mathews had a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu registered in his name,” according to a FOX 59 report. “MPD detectives began patrolling around hotels on N. Shadeland Avenue searching for the vehicle. It was around this time that a missing persons alert was filed for Banks.”
The report continued: “While on patrol of the area, an IMPD officer spotted a beige car similar to Mathews’ parked at the Marathon gas station in the 3000 block of Shadeland. The officer confirmed the car’s license plate matched the one registered to Mathews and called for backup. Multiple IMPD cars arrived at the gas station and began surrounding Mathews’ car, which was parked at pump 3. However, officers could not tell if anyone was inside due to a heavy window tint.”
He was approached and apprehended. Shortly after, Banks was found safe. He has been booked on the following charges: attempted murder, criminal confinement, criminal recklessness, attempted robbery, and unlawful carrying of a handgun due to priors.
Mathews is being held at Marion County Jail on $100,000 bond.
