Updated story: Police said they had probable cause to arrest man for murder in disappearance of Pittsfield Township woman

Previous story: Police searching for woman they believe may be homicide victim

Several Pittsfield Township police officers on Wednesday night walked in and out of an apartment in the Arbor Knoll complex on Michigan Avenue, where a woman police are saying may be the victim of a homicide lived with her boyfriend and ex-husband.

Officers carried armloads of boxes, computers and other items, and neighbors said patrol cars were parked outside all day.

Dawn Fital

“The people who lived here were really quiet. I never heard any bumping or loud noises or anything,” she said. “This is all very shocking.”

Matt Harshberger, director of the Pittsfield Department of Public Safety, said his department was contacted Tuesday night by police in Merrillville, Ind., who had concerns about Dawn Marie Fital.

Police were told the 45-year-old Pittsfield Township woman may be in danger.

At the same time, Merrillville Police detained a 44-year-old man in Indiana who is believed to be the boyfriend of Fital, who's been missing since Monday.

Merillville Police said they acted on a report of the man acting suspiciously behind a Merrillville bank. After questioning the man, he provided information that led police to contact Pittsfield officers and ask for a welfare check on Fital, the man’s girlfriend, Harshberger said.

Pittsfield Township police are treating Fital’s disappearance as a homicide investigation.

Officers spoke with Fital’s ex-husband, who family has identified as Patrick Fital. Harshberger said the ex-busband had not seen her or been in contact with her since Monday. It is not clear when Dawn Fital left Michigan.

Francine Fitol, a cousin of Dawn’s ex-husband, started a Facebook page Tuesday asking for help in the search for Dawn Fital.

Friends and family continued to update the page through late Wednesday night.

Fitol described Dawn as an international championship pool player who regularly traveled to compete across the country. Dawn Fital had just returned to Michigan from a tournament in Las Vegas less than a week ago, she said.

“She’s good at it. It was just her passion. She’s competitive and loves that rough edge.”

Fitol said family and friends continued to stay in close contact, but had many questions about what may have happened.

The Michigan State Police Crime Lab, Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office, and other police agencies are investigating. Anyone who may have information about the case is asked to call the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety at 734-822-4911.

Heidi Fenton covers police and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heidifenton@annarbor.com or 734-623-4673. You also can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.