Indianapolis Uber Driver Sentenced to 45 Years Following Passenger’s Death During Attempted Sexual Assault

An Indianapolis Uber driver has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after admitting responsibility for the death of passenger Chanti Dixon, a 30-year-old woman who disappeared after finishing a late work shift in September 2024,
Hoodline.com reported earlier today.

Prosecutors stated that the driver, Francisco Valadez, killed Dixon during an attempted sexual assault inside his vehicle. Dixon was reported missing the next morning, prompting an investigation that quickly identified Valadez as the driver who had picked her up.

After being taken into custody, he acknowledged his involvement, leading detectives to recover evidence linking him to Dixon’s death. Under the plea agreement filed with the court, Valadez will plead guilty to one count of murder. The agreement also requires a lifetime no-contact order protecting a member of Dixon’s family. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey described the crime as disturbing and said no passenger should ever face harm from a driver they trusted for transportation. A judge is scheduled to review the plea deal on December 4.

This case comes as Uber faces extensive civil litigation involving allegations of sexual misconduct by its drivers. In the federal multidistrict litigation in California, more than 2,800 survivors have filed lawsuits against Uber, alleging sexual assault, harassment, kidnapping, and related misconduct during rides. Separately, California state courts have more than 500 active cases involving similar allegations. These filings reflect a wider national effort by survivors seeking accountability after reporting harm during Uber rides.

The first U.S. jury trial to reach a verdict in a sexual assault case against Uber concluded in California in late September. In that case, a woman alleged she was assaulted by her driver in 2016. A jury found Uber negligent in its safety measures but ultimately decided that this negligence was not a substantial factor in causing the assault, and the company was not held liable for damages.

Public safety data from Uber shows that more than 12,000 sexual assaults were reported in the company’s first three U.S. Safety Reports covering 2017 through 2022. However, internal company records disclosed during litigation and later reviewed by The New York Times indicate far higher totals. According to the documents, riders and drivers reported more than 400,000 incidents of sexual misconduct, harassment, or assault across the same period. Advocates and attorneys say this data reflects the scale of survivor allegations emerging in both civil and criminal cases nationwide.

Valadez’s sentencing highlights the criminal consequences in one case, while the expanding civil litigation continues to raise questions about ride-share safety and the responsibilities of transportation companies. Survivors and their families continue to pursue legal claims that seek safer policies, increased transparency, and meaningful reform.