A 59-year-old man from Arlington, Indiana, has been charged with murder after human remains were discovered buried on his property. Patrick Scott appeared in court for an initial hearing and is also facing charges of obstruction of justice and false informing. The suspect was ordered to be held without bond. The case involves the disappearance of 17-year-old Valerie Tindall, who was last seen on June 7. She was reported missing shortly after she went to work for Scott’s lawn mowing business.
The investigation took a grim turn when cadaver-sniffing dogs indicated the smell of decomposition near a pond on Scott’s property. However, an initial search did not yield any results. On Tuesday, police discovered a large dirt pile and debris on the suspect’s property. After digging, they uncovered a rectangular box wrapped in tarp, containing human remains. The box also contained fingernails painted with orange polish, matching a photo of Tindall posted on social media. Although the remains have not been officially identified, Sheriff Allan Rice stated that they are likely those of Tindall.
During the investigation, Scott confessed to strangling Tindall with his belt in the bedroom of his home. He claimed that she had attempted to blackmail and seduce him. Tindall’s mother described a close relationship between her daughter and Scott, as Tindall not only worked for him but also spent time with his family.
While this development brings closure to the search for Tindall, authorities emphasize that the case is far from over, and justice will be sought. The community remains shocked and saddened by the tragic outcome of this investigation.
