Girlfriend was ‘diabetic’; court records say man fatally beat her

When Paul Jarosik showed up two hours late for his 4 a.m. shift at Sam’s Club on April 3, 2020, he was tearful.

His girlfriend Michelle Brown had died, he told co-workers.

She was “diabetic” and “didn’t wake up”, Allison Higgins, an assistant manager, testified Wednesday he told her. She told him he could go home. He declined, saying he “needed something to keep busy”.

But court records, despite Jarosik’s claims to his boss, instead allege he beat Brown to death.

Jarosik, 38, of Schererville, is on trial this week for the April 2, 2020 murder of Brown, 46, before Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas in Crown Point.

Defense lawyer Herb Shaps is defending Jarosik, while Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Infinity Westberg and Taylor Young are assigned.

Schererville Police arrived just after 1 p.m. April 2, 2020 to the couple’s apartment on the 2100 block of Meadow Lane. Brown was on the floor as Jarosik was trying to perform CPR with help from 911 dispatchers.

She was “stiff ” and “cold to the touch” with a “bump” on her forehead and leg bruises, according to court records. Her “upper jaw” and limbs showed signs of rigor mortis, according to court records.

Halfway through her autopsy, a forensic pathologist found multiple signs of abuse and internal injuries, including “fresh” blows to the head, according to the affidavit. Her death was ruled a homicide due to a “massive head injury” from a “blunt force trauma to the head”.

Jarosik claimed to police that Brown was a “heavy drinker” with “high blood pressure”, who didn’t take her medication. She was “depressed” and drank more after her hours were cut at work, he claimed, according to court documents. He later said Brown was not diabetic and didn’t believe she took insulin.

He last saw her when leaving for work at 4 a.m. April 2, charges allege. He texted her throughout the day. She saw 2-3 messages, but didn’t respond. Jarosik told police she ran into a closet door, which explained her injuries. He denied beating her, charges state.

Witnesses said the couple fought regularly. One witness said Brown was limping to do laundry one day, had bruises, but avoided eye contact.

A few nights before, she screamed that Jarosik was beating her.

“I’m just kinda in shock,” he told police. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t hit her. I didn’t shove her. I didn’t do anything to her, I’m like 99% sure.”

Relatives and another witness said Brown confided that Jarosik beat her. One witness said it seemed to get worse the year before she died. One relative said Brown sent her a picture that appeared to show her bloodied head. The witness said Brown told her if she died, “Paul did it”.

Co-workers said it was “a little weird” that Jarosik was back at work so soon after Brown’s death.

Another supervisor said Jarosik said Brown was “diabetic,” then died from high blood pressure, then “bumped her head.”

Jarosik told police he and Brown met when they worked together at a credit card processing company in Illinois.

The trial continues this week.