Marshall County Police, Coroner Bill Clevenger and Prosecutor Nelson Chipman worked with the South Bend Metro Homicide Wednesday afternoon just before 5 to recover the remains of a female body located on Queen Road between the former Culver Academy Airport and 18th Road.
South Bend police believe the body recovered is that of missing 22 year old Alma Del Real who went missing April 12th.
Police were able to obtain enough information from a male suspect to locate the body in rural Marshall County. That suspect, 24 year old Alberto Cruz on a preliminary charge of murder.
Del Real’s body will be taken to Kalamazoo for a forensic autopsy on Thursday.
This is an on gong investigation and South Bend Metro Homicide will be handling the case because it is believed that Del Real was murdered in South Bend and her body was dumped in Marshall County.
Listeners and readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
