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Woman's death at Franklin home ruled homicide due to gunshot wound

Franklin police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the woman's death.

FRANKLIN, Indiana — Detectives began an investigation into a death at a Franklin home that police have deemed "suspicious."

Officers received a call Saturday around 1:45 a.m. about a suicide attempt at a home in the 2700 block of Woodfield Boulevard. The home is in the Branigin Creek subdivision, which is located near South U.S. Highway 31. 

Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran said arriving officers spoke with 49-year-old Johnathan Baker, who was inside the home. 

Baker let officers into the home. That's where Cochran said they found a woman, identified as 47-year-old Jennifer Lynn Lewis, dead. 

Franklin police are investigating the circumstances leading up to Lewis' death. They are also working with Indiana State Police Crime Lab to investigate the death as "suspicious" in nature, Cochran said. 

Johnson County Coroner Michael Pruitt ruled Lewis' death a homicide due to a single gunshot wound.

Baker was arrested on a probation violation for possession of handguns.

According to court documents, Baker was on probation after pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge in September. The case stems from an incident that happened at the same address in January. 

Police records say officers received a call from a man saying his stepfather was beating his mother. When they got to the house, they say Lewis answered the door and said, “Help me,” and told police Baker was upstairs with a gun.  

Lewis then told officers Baker hit her about 75 times and choked her, saying she almost lost consciousness. 

Baker received one year of probation and counseling for domestic battery.  

Investigators said the neighborhood is safe and they have no reason to believe there is any concern of further danger related to this incident. 

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