The Lake County Coroner's Office says the death of a Hammond woman who disappeared more than ten years ago has been ruled a homicide, caused by extensive skull fractures due to unspecified blunt force trauma. Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller says Francine Carlson was 38 years old at the time of her disappearance in 1999, her remains discovered at the demolition site of a former bait shop in the 17-hundred block of Indianapolis Blvd, after a dog found one of her bones. Chief Miller says they spoke to over 30 people regarding the case, and identified a then 50 year old man as a suspect, who passed away five-years ago.
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