Girlfriend charged in fatal shooting at Hillcrest Apartments in Dowagiac

DOWAGIAC, Mich. -- The girlfriend of the man who was found shot to death at an apartment complex on Thursday has been arrested in Indiana on preliminary murder charges. 

Dowagiac Police were called to the Hillcrest Apartments on Thursday evening and located man deceased with apparent gunshot wounds.

A suspect in the shooting was identified as the victim’s girlfriend, Deidra Tomlin, police said.

Police say they learned Tomlin and the victim argued on Monday and the victim was shot during this argument.

Tomlin and another roommate solicited help from another person to dispose of the victim’s body, but they were unable to remove the body, reports said.

The suspects were located in a residence in South Bend and were taken into custody.

Tomlin, 39, has been charged with open murder, tampering with evidence, possession of methamphetamine, concealing the death of an individual and three counts of felony firearm.

Jamie Loriot, 41, has been charged with tempering with evidence, accessory after the fact to a felony and concealing the death of an individual. She is also facing a habitual second offender penalty.

CORRECTION: Documents released by the prosecutor's office included the name of the victim. Because they have been unable to reach all family members, law enforcement asked us to not name the victim. We have removed the victim's name.