A Philadelphia woman who was reported missing last month after a man was found shot to death inside her home was found dead at a community college in Delaware on Monday.
The body of 59-year-old Kim Ezell, also known as Darlene, was discovered inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Delaware Technical Community College-Stanton Campus on 400 Stanton-Christiana Road in Newark. The vehicle Ezell was found in is used for parts by the campus fleet management.
Police have not yet revealed a cause of death.
State Police say the investigation is in the early stages but there is no threat to the safety of the community.
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Ezell was first reported missing back on January 5. When she wasn’t answering her phone calls, her family members went to her home on the 1700 block of West Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia. When they arrived they found the body of Stanley Lawton, 78, who had been shot to death. At the time there were no signs of forced entry. Family members told NBC10 Ezell had been renting the room to Lawton whom she had known for a while.
On January 12, Philadelphia police arrested 31-year-old Walter Head after executing a search warrant at his home along the 3000 block of North 20th Street. Police said they also found three handguns inside the home.
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On January 13, Head was charged with murdering Lawton along with aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and other related offenses. Investigators have not yet revealed whether or not Head was involved in Ezell’s disappearance or death.
"It's really hard to take in," Michelle Dunston, Ezell's sister, told NBC10. "Of course we were hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, but I didn't want this to be the outcome."
Police continue to investigate.
