CROWN POINT — A Gary man is charged with murder in another man's brutal stabbing New Year's Day.
James M. Jackson-Burnett, 27, of Gary, was charged Saturday in Lake Criminal Court with murder in the stabbing of Edward Norwood, 56, at Norwood's home in the 3600 block of Johnson Street, court documents state.
Norwood's nude body was found the afternoon of Jan. 1 by Gary police in his bedroom. He sustained multiple stab wounds and his throat was slashed, documents state.
Norwood's vehicle was found abandoned in the 4200 block of Monroe Street, documents state. Blood was smeared on the vehicle's arm rest and steering wheel.
Family members said they last saw Norwood during the early morning hours Dec. 30.
A woman called police Feb. 1 to report “James,” a man residing in Oak Lawn, Illinois, was responsible for Norwood's killing, documents state.
She said in an interview with Gary police “James,” identified as Jackson-Burnett, claimed to her boyfriend he had “one under his belt,” which she understood to mean a murder, documents state.
The woman told police the defendant allegedly showed her boyfriend a news article about Norwood's murder to prove he was telling the truth, documents state.
Jackson-Burnett agreed to an interview Feb. 2 with detectives from the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit . He told police he and Norwood were former sexual partners, but things soured after he broke into Norwood's home Dec. 26, documents state.
He declined to say whether there was an altercation, documents state. Detectives noted Jackson-Burnett had a stitched-up laceration on his right hand between his thumb and index finger.
Jackson-Burnett claimed the injury was caused by a fall, documents state.
