Update Concerning Charges On Dimas Yanes
Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. announced Monday that criminal charges have been filed against 26-year-old Dimas Gabriel Yanes who is accused of stabbing a 13-year-old girl in unincorporated Lowell, Indiana August 31, 2024.
Yanes faces 5 felony counts:
· Attempted Murder – Level 1 felony
· Aggravated Battery Posing Substantial Risk of Death – Level 3 felony
· Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to Person Under 14 – Level 3 felony
· Battery by Means of Deadly Weapon – Level 5 felony
· Intimidation – Level 5 felony
On August 31, 2024 at the Lowell Bluebirds Softball Field located at 17401 Morse St in Lowell a teen was sitting on the bleachers during a game when an unknown male, now identified as Dimas Gabriel Yanes, approached from the wooded area, according to court documents. Yanes walked over to the bleachers and hovered over the teen while holding a large knife. When Yanes tried to stab the teen in the chest with the knife she blocked it with her hand, causing numerous lacerations to her fingers. The mother of the teen heard a commotion and ran towards her daughter while her daughter was already running towards her. Yanes then charged towards the mother and attempted to stab her as well but she eluded the attack.
A third witness stated what he believed saved the teens life is that she had an umbrella in her hand that she used to prevent the knife from hitting her before using her hand to stop the knife. All three then observed Yanes run away from the baseball field, towards a hill, and disappear.
Yanes gave a statement to police saying, “I came to the United States in 2022 from Honduras through Texas. I got rides to Colorado and took a train to Chicago. I knew that I was in between Chicago and Indiana.” He stated that it was a female that he believed to be a minor that he caused harm to. Yanes said, “I only pointed it toward her and she stopped it with her hand and I saw her facial expression on the female that I caused harm to that made him feel uncomfortable.” “What I did was not intentional,” Yanes said. “Someone was following me and telling me to do it.”
Since being deported to Honduras in 2018, Mr. Yanes reentered the United States illegally and committed crimes in at least 5 states – Nassau County, New York, Madison County, Illinois, Cobb County, Georgia, Williams County, Ohio and Lake County, Indiana. His criminal history includes battery, trespassing, intoxication, attempted burglary and now attempted murder.
During the weekend search for Yanes, we received intelligence that he had been classified as a risk to law enforcement officer safety and to national security due to documented ties to international gang MS-13.
“This case demonstrates the need for rigorous border control. It’s a serious concern not only for me, as sheriff of Lake County, but for sheriffs serving all 92 counties in Indiana.”
Immediately after this vicious attack, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department mobilized every available piece of equipment and element of technology in its arsenal to find this dangerous suspect and bring him to justice.
“I am proud of the dedication of Lake County police officers and law enforcement from surrounding agencies who worked tirelessly on this case,” Martinez went on to say. “I’m also extremely grateful for members of the public who provided us with tips on the suspect’s location. Those solid leads allowed us to use our helicopter, ATVs and other tools to effectively track the suspect as he fled through cornfields, wooded areas and harsh terrain. The violence this 13-year-old was forced to endure is unspeakable. We will continue to support her and her family and pray for her complete and speedy recovery.”
