Michigan City resident arrested for murdering, dismembering roommate in 2017

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - A Michigan City resident was arrested for murder and abuse of corpse after allegedly murdering and dismembering his former roommate in the residence they shared back in 2017.

John Hallett, 48, was taken into custody in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday and is awaiting extradition to the La Porte County Jail.

In August of 2022, Hallett allegedly called Michigan City police, admitting to the homicide inside a residence in the 1000 block of W. 9th St. in November of 2017.

He told police that he and his roommate, 64-year-old Paul Gonzales, were experiencing homelessness and were assigned as roommates in the house on West 9th Street. 

Hallett thought Gonzales was stealing his mail and trying to get him kicked out of their house, so he killed him, Hallett told police. 

Hallett allegedly kept the body in the house's basement for 56 days before dismembering it and disposing of it in city trash cans.