Current:Home > BackIndiana coroner identifies remains of teen girl found buried on land of man charged in her death-LoTradeCoin
Indiana coroner identifies remains of teen girl found buried on land of man charged in her death
View Date:2024-12-23 15:44:44
ARLINGTON, Ind. (AP) — An Indiana coroner has identified the remains of a 17-year-old girl who vanished in June and whose body was found this week in a box buried on land owned by a man now charged in her slaying.
The remains discovered Tuesday on suspect Patrick Scott’s property were positively identified as those of Valerie Tindall. Rush County Coroner Brenda McMahan said the cause and manner of Tindall’s death are pending toxicology reports and a final autopsy report.
In a statement Thursday announcing the coroner’s findings and charges against Scott, the Rush County Sheriff’s Office said that it offered its “deepest condolences to the family and friends of Valerie Tindall during this time of mourning.”
Scott, 59, was charged Thursday with murder, obstruction of justice and false informing. A judge ordered him held without bond and appointed a public defender to represent Scott during his initial hearing.
The Rush County Public Defender’s office declined to comment Friday on the case involving Scott.
Tindall had worked for Scott, who owns a lawn-mowing business. Court documents indicate that she told her parents on June 7 that she was going to work. Scott told police that later the same day he drove Tindall back to his home in Arlington, a rural community about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Indianapolis.
Scott, who was arrested Tuesday, also told investigators he strangled Tindall with his belt in the bedroom of his home when she tried to blackmail and seduce him, according to the documents.
After Tindall was reported missing, searches were mounted to find her, including on Oct. 11, when cadaver-sniffing dogs indicated the smell of decomposition in a pond near Scott’s property, although a search failed to turn up anything, the court documents state.
On Tuesday, police investigators found a large dirt pile and debris on Scott’s property and dug up a rectangular box wrapped in tarp, with human remains inside.
Tindall’s mother, Shena Sandefur, told WRTV-TV the family had trusted Scott, who was their neighbor.
“She and him had a bond. They were friends,” Sandefur said. “She worked for him, but she also hung out with his family. His granddaughter was her friend, and we went places with them.”
veryGood! (24378)
Related
- Todd Golden to continue as Florida basketball coach despite sexual harassment probe
- Bowen Yang Apologizes to Ariana Grande for Being Over Eager About SNL Kiss
- Investigators: Kentucky officers wounded by suspect fatally shot him after altercation
- Crews battling 2 wildfires in New Jersey
- A pair of Trump officials have defended family separation and ramped-up deportations
- Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown Marks Rare Celebration After Kody Brown Split
- Mayor wins 2-week write-in campaign to succeed Kentucky lawmaker who died
- 'Boondock Saints' won't die, as violent cult film returns to theaters 25 years later
- Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
- A Heart for Charity and the Power of Technology: Dexter Quisenberry Builds a Better Society
Ranking
- Catholic bishops urged to boldly share church teachings — even unpopular ones
- NFL MVP odds: Ravens' Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry among favorites before Week 10
- Outer Banks Just Killed Off a Major Character During Intense Season 4 Finale
- Gateway Church removes elders, aiding criminal investigation: 'We denounce sexual abuse'
- Judge weighs the merits of a lawsuit alleging ‘Real Housewives’ creators abused a cast member
- Dexter Quisenberry: AI DataMind Soars because of SWA Token, Ushering in a New Era of Intelligent Investing
- Spread Christmas Cheer With These Elf-Inspired Gifts That’ll Have Fans Singing Loud for All To Hear
- California governor calls special session to protect liberal policies from Trump presidency
Recommendation
-
Eminem, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, N.W.A. and Janet Jackson get Songwriters Hall of Fame nods
-
She was found dead by hikers in 1994. Her suspected killer was identified 30 years later.
-
Ariana Grande Explains Why She Changed Her Voice for Glinda in Wicked
-
Volunteer poll workers drown on a flood-washed highway in rural Missouri on Election Day
-
Stock market today: Asian stocks decline as China stimulus plan disappoints markets
-
NY state police launch criminal probe into trooper suspended over account of being shot and wounded
-
When does Spotify Wrapped stop tracking for 2024? Streamer dismisses false rumor
-
Zach Bryan Hints at the “Trouble” He Caused in New Song Dropped After Dave Portnoy Diss Track