A man has been charged with murdering his wife, who was found stabbed to death nearly 20 years ago in a van several days after he had reported her missing, according to police.
A grand jury in St. Joseph County, Indiana, indicted Lucio Lerma, Sr., on a murder charge in connection with the killing of Delia Lerma, the South Bend Police Department said in a Tuesday, March 24, news release on the cold case.
Delia died at the age of 33, according to police.
Her body was found in a van along South Carlisle Street in South Bend in December 2007, days after Lucio “filed a missing person’s report on Delia,” police said.
Before she was killed, she left her South Bend home to visit a nearby grocery store, WNDU reported.
Lucio told police that his wife had gone out to meet a family member and had planned to return, according to the TV station.
Following the discovery of her body, Lucio spoke with the TV station and said, “I feel my heart is broken, I cannot even talk.”
“I just keep thinking of my kids, because I know that’s real hard, and when I come back home, it’s kinda hard to tell them what’s going on,” Lucio had added, according to WNDU.
South Bend Police cold case investigators Craig Whitfield and Gary Hasbrook eventually revisited the investigatory files to review the evidence and interview old and new witnesses, according to police.
The South Bend Police Department also worked with the reality TV series Cold Justice to feature the case, police said. An episode about Delia’s death premiered in November 2025.
A grand jury was ultimately presented with the facts of the case between March 16 and Thursday, March 19, resulting in an indictment against Lucio, according to police.
“The Family of Delia Lerma has been advised of the Grand Jury’s decision and Lucio’s subsequent arrest,” police announced.
It was not immediately clear whether Lucio had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
According to Delia’s obituary published by the South Bend Tribune, she married Lucio on January 24, 1994.
Before her death, she planned to visit Texas with her family for the Christmas holiday, her obituary says.
Delia had four children, according to the obituary. In addition to her children, she was survived by her mother, two sisters, two brothers and several other family members.
“She loved cooking tamales, and traveling … Her brothers and sisters always loved her,” her obituary states, in part.
Lucio is being held in custody without bond, according to police. He is due to return to court for a hearing set for April 6.
