Valerie Tindall of Arlington, Posey Township, Rush County, Indiana, United States has died. She was 17.
Tindall had just finished her junior year in high school. She is Jack Tindall and Shena Sanders‘ daughter.
The family’s residence is behind the house of their family friend Patrick A. Scott, 59. Valerie had a summer job mowing lawns for Scott, who owned a landscaping business.
On June 7, 2023, Valerie took to social media to post a photo of herself with orange-colored nails. At 11:23 a.m. that day, she sent a message to Scott saying, “I’ll be there soon.”
In the afternoon, Valerie told her parents she was going to work. She then met Scott and he drove her back to his residence.
That was the last time Valerie was seen alive. Scott strangled her with his belt in the bedroom of his residence that day, which he revealed only after he was arrested for her murder.
After Valerie’s family reported her missing, her Honda Accord was found at an apartment complex where Scott did landscaping work. On June 29, 2023, he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of lying to police and hindering the investigation.
On October 11, 2023, cadaver-sniffing dogs indicated the smell of decomposition in a pond near Scott’s property but investigators were not able to find Valerie’s body. On November 28, 2023, they went back to his property, found a large dirt pile and debris there and dug up a rectangular box wrapped in tarp.
Human remains with fingernails painted with orange polish were found inside the box. Shortly after, Scott was arrested at his residence.
When interviewed by investigators, Scott claimed that Valerie tried to blackmail and seduce him. He was charged with murder, obstruction of justice and false informing.
On November 30, 2023, Scott appeared in Rush County Circuit Court in Rushville Township, Rush County for an initial hearing. He was ordered jailed without bond. A public defender was appointed to represent him.
CONAN Daily 