Darren Deon Vann was born on March 21, 1971, in Indiana. He faced many challenges early on, which shaped his troubled path. Vann joined the United States Marine Corps in 1991, seeking a stable career, but his time there was short-lived. By 1993, he received an "other than honorable" discharge, which marked the beginning of his struggles.

Vann's personal life was also tumultuous. He married Maria Vann, who was about 30 years older than him. Their marriage lasted for 16 years but was far from peaceful. In August 2009, Maria filed for divorce, and their marriage officially ended in 2011. 

During this period, Vann faced significant legal issues. He was arrested in Gary, Indiana, for threatening his girlfriend's life, leading to a class D felony charge and a 90-day jail sentence.

Additionally, Vann's criminal record included a serious conviction in Texas. On September 28, 2009, he was found guilty of a sexual assault committed in Austin in 2007. This conviction resulted in a five-year prison sentence, from which he was released on July 5, 2013. These early experiences, marked by legal troubles and personal conflicts, set a troubling foundation for Vann's future.

In August 2010, Thomas Hargrove, a reporter, used a special computer program to analyze crime data. 

This program strongly suggested that a serial killer was at work in Gary, Indiana. Hargrove repeatedly urged local authorities to investigate 15 suspicious deaths that occurred between 1980 and 2008. Despite his efforts, the local police denied there was any evidence of a serial killer. However, a Gary deputy coroner agreed with Hargrove and added three more suspected victims to the list.

The breakthrough came when 19-year-old Afrikka Hardy was found strangled in a Motel 6. By tracking Hardy's phone records, authorities found Darren Deon Vann. When they caught him, Vann had several pieces of evidence, including Hardy's phone.

During questioning, Vann confessed to killing Hardy and revealed he had killed other women too. He was arrested and faced multiple charges. At his first court hearing on October 22, Vann was held in contempt of court. Later, he pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and a robbery charge. 

Vann's trial faced numerous delays due to various legal motions and requests. Finally, in May 2018, Vann pleaded guilty to seven murders as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to seven life sentences without parole. In 2021, a crime podcast revealed recordings of Vann confessing to many more unsolved murders across the country. He claimed to have killed dozens of women in places like Chicago, California, North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Darren Deon Vann's known victims included Afrikka Hardy, 19, who was found dead in a Motel 6 bathtub in October 2014. 

Anith Jones, 35, was reported missing and later found in an abandoned house. Teaira Batey, 28, disappeared in January 2014, and her body was found in another abandoned house in October 2014. Kristine Williams, 36, was a mother of four and found dead in yet another abandoned house. Tracy Martin, 41, went missing in June 2014, and her body was discovered in October. Sonya Billingsley, 53, and Tanya Gatlin, 27, both went missing in early 2014 and were found together in an abandoned house. Vann's crimes left a trail of heartbreak and horror, revealing a dark chapter in the history of Gary, Indiana.