Gary blight that hid victims also lures filmmakers
GARY, Ind. — The city of Gary's blighted neighborhoods that have come under scrutiny following the discovery of six slain women in abandoned homes aren't just breeding grounds for crime.
Those dilapidated buildings also draw Hollywood directors who've used the bleak settings as backdrops for horror and action films.
Ben Clement of the Gary Office of Film & Television says scenes for “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and the “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake were filmed in Gary's blighted landmarks, including the city's decaying, nine-story City Methodist Church.
He says filmmakers have also shot scenes that include some of Gary's estimated 10,000 vacant homes.
Authorities say 43-year-old convicted sex offender Darren Vann has confessed to killing seven women. Six of their bodies were found last weekend in abandoned homes in Gary.