Indiana investigators announced the end of a 6-month search after discovering a missing teen’s body stuffed inside a barrel near her Rush County home.
According to a Rushville County Sheriff’s Office press statement, police discovered 17-year-old Valerie Tindall’s body on November 28, in the backyard of a home off Oak Street in Arlington. Police detained and arrested Patrick Scott, 59, on Tuesday in connection with the case.
Family members reported Tindall missing on June 8 but police said that “substantial investigative activity” was needed before discovering Tindall, including carrying out over 50 search warrants. One of the previous searches included searching a pond on Scott’s property.
Tindall was working for Scott and his lawn care business when she disappeared on June 7.
“We moved away from Indy to get away from violence. And we moved across the street from her predator,” Valerie’s mother, Shena Sandefur, told Fox 59. ”She’s a really good person, sweet kid. She worked hard to get her grades up, she was gonna go to college, she was accepted and now she’ll never have the chance.”
Scott had been previously arrested for making false statements to police after he allegedly changed his story numerous times when asked about Valerie. He initially claimed that he dropped her off with an unknown male in Homer, which is around five miles from Arlington.
Sandefur said that someone told her that they overheard Scott telling the victim that he wanted to take her “someplace special” on June 7, after a lunch outing in Indianapolis. The same person said that Scott appeared to be a “jealous boyfriend” and would constantly check Tindall’s phone.
Police later found Tindall’s car abandoned at a Shelbyville apartment complex. Scott had allegedly been driving the car and told investigators that he was simply moving the teen’s vehicle for her and that they both left in his lawn care truck.
Sandefur added that Scott was allegedly seen burning down his garage at 2 a.m. shortly after Tindall vanished. Investigators reportedly found the barrel (with the victim’s body inside) buried underneath the rubble.
Rush County Sheriff Allan Rice said the investigation is in its early stages and “far from over.”
“This is not the outcome we had all hoped for,” Rice said. “This case is still under investigation to ensure those responsible are successfully prosecuted.”
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS or the Rush County SO at (765) 932-2931.
Meanwhile, Scott remains behind bars on one count of murder.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Valerie Tindall/Facebook via Shena Sandefur]
