A 59-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old neighbor in central Indiana after human remains were discovered on his property in June. Patrick Scott, who was both a neighbor and boss of Valerie Tindall, admitted to officers that he killed the teenager on June 7. He said he strangled her with a belt and then buried her in a homemade box in his backyard.
Scott was ordered jailed without bond and is charged with obstruction of justice and false informing. According to court documents, Tindall worked for Scott and was last seen being driven back to his home by him. Despite being reported missing later, her whereabouts remained unknown until recent investigations.
After cadaver-sniffing dogs mentioned the suspected presence of human remains in the area, police found the box where Tindall’s remains were buried. Later, the Rush County Coroner positively identified the remains as those of Tindall.
Scott added shocking details, telling investigators that Tindall attempted to blackmail and seduce him before he strangled her in his home. Although he confessed to the crime, Scott claimed that his wife and daughter were unaware of the incident.
The heinous crime has sent shockwaves through the community, with local residents expressing their disbelief and the victim’s mother sharing that Scott and Tindall had a close friendship. The tragic events surrounding Tindall’s disappearance and death concluded in a horrific manner, but the search for justice for Tindall is far from over.
