59-Year-Old Man Arrested After Missing Neighbor Valerie Tindall Found Dead on His Property

Accident – Death – Obituary News : RUSH COUNTY, Ind. (TCD) — In a shocking turn of events, a 59-year-old man has been arrested after his missing neighbor and employee was found dead on his property. The case has sent shockwaves through the small community of Rush County.

The incident began on June 10 when the Rush County Sheriff’s Department issued a statewide Silver Alert for 17-year-old Valerie Tindall. She had been last seen on June 7 in Arlington, driving a green Honda Accord. The Sheriff’s Office deemed her to be in “extreme danger.” In August, there were suspicions that Tindall may have changed her appearance to avoid being found.

After months of investigation, Rush County investigators, along with FBI agents, U.S. Marshals, and other law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at a residence on North Oak Street in Arlington. During the search, they made a gruesome discovery – a body. The body was identified as Tindall, and the homeowner, Patrick Scott, was subsequently arrested on charges of murder, obstruction of justice, and false informing to a law enforcement officer.

In a press conference, Rush County Sheriff Allan Rice revealed that Scott had previously been identified as a person of interest in the case. The Rush County Coroner’s Office positively identified the remains as Tindall’s, although the cause and manner of death are still pending.

According to court records cited by WXIN-TV, investigators found Tindall’s body inside a homemade box made of two-by-fours and strand boards. The victim’s orange painted nails matched a photo Tindall had posted on social media the day she disappeared. Detectives also discovered a second box containing papers and old VHS tapes.

Scott confessed to strangling Tindall with his belt, stating, “I put it around her neck and I held onto it until she quit.” He admitted to leaving her body in his office before wrapping it in plastic, placing it in the box, and burying it.

Scott claimed that Tindall had been trying to blackmail him in order to obtain a new car. He stated, “I just knew she wasn’t going to blackmail me.” Tindall had worked for Scott’s landscaping business during the summer, and they had spent time together.

Neighbors reported seeing Scott burning down his garage shortly after Tindall disappeared, adding another suspicious element to the case.

Sheriff Rice expressed his disappointment in the tragic outcome, stating, “This is not the outcome we had hoped for. This case is still under investigation to ensure those responsible are successfully prosecuted.”

The Rush County community has been rocked by this disturbing incident. As the investigation continues, residents are seeking answers and hoping for justice for Valerie Tindall..