The body of Valerie Tindall, a 17-year-old girl who went missing in June, has been found buried in the yard of her neighbor, Patrick A. Scott. Scott, who was charged with murder, confessed to killing Tindall and claimed she had tried to seduce him. Tindall’s family described her as a smart and funny girl who loved animals and had dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Scott was previously identified as a person of interest in the case and was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of lying to police. Cadaver dogs confirmed the presence of human remains near Scott’s property, leading to the discovery of Tindall’s body. Both families were close, and Scott and his wife had visited Tindall’s family multiple times after her disappearance, suggesting that she had run away. Scott is currently being held without bond and faces charges of murder, felony obstruction of justice, and false informing. The next court hearing is scheduled for December 19. Drusilla Moorhouse reported
The body of Valerie Tindall, a 17-year-old girl from Indiana who had been missing since June, was discovered buried in the yard of her neighbor, Patrick A. Scott. Scott, a 59-year-old man who owned a landscaping business, was later charged with her murder. Tindall, who had just finished her junior year in high school, had been working for Scott over the summer mowing lawns. On the day she disappeared, she had informed her family that she was going to work but never returned home.
Tindall’s remains were positively identified by a coroner on Thursday. Her parents described her as a sweet, smart, and funny girl who loved animals and aspired to become a veterinarian. She enjoyed creating TikTok videos with her two sisters. Scott was arrested at his home, where he confessed to strangling Tindall with his belt. He claimed that she had attempted to seduce him and threatened to blackmail him when he rejected her advances.
Law enforcement had initially identified Scott as a person of interest shortly after Tindall’s disappearance. He initially denied any involvement but later changed his story multiple times. Police found Tindall’s Honda Accord at an apartment complex where Scott had done landscaping work, leading to his arrest on a misdemeanor charge of lying to the police and obstructing the investigation.
In October, cadaver dogs indicated the presence of human remains near Scott’s property, but Tindall’s body was not immediately found. However, an aerial survey revealed disturbances in the ground, prompting investigators to return in November. They eventually discovered Tindall’s body in a long wooden box wrapped in a tarp. Purchase records showed that Scott had bought lumber from Home Depot on the day after Tindall’s disappearance, matching the box in which her body was found. Scott admitted to constructing the box and burying her body in it after keeping it overnight in his office. He claimed that his family was unaware of his actions and had no involvement in concealing the crime.
Both families had a close relationship, often socializing together. In the days following Tindall’s disappearance, Scott and his wife visited her family numerous times, suggesting that she had run away but would eventually return. However, Tindall’s family never believed this theory, as she had made no contact with them or posted on social media. They felt that something was wrong.
Scott is facing charges of murder, felony obstruction of justice, and false informing. He is currently being held without bond. Tindall’s family is devastated by the loss and seeks answers and justice. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise funds for her funeral expenses. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 19th..