The Vigo County Coroner’s Office has identified the individual that was discovered in the body of water on June 19, 2021, in southern Vigo County.
The individual has been positively identified as Richard M. Patterson, 32, Terre Haute.
The family has been notified.
The Vigo County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be drowning.
The preliminary investigation by Putnamville State Police Post detectives indicates that in the late hours on June 12, 2021, the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department responded to a disabled vehicle on Riley Road.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered that the vehicle was stolen and that Richard M. Patterson, age 32, of Terre Haute, Indiana, was in possession of the vehicle.
It was also discovered that Patterson was in possession of stolen articles from a nearby residence.
Deputies placed Patterson under arrest, handcuffing him and placing him in a patrol car.
While deputies processed the crime scene, Patterson, still handcuffed, escaped from the patrol car.
The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department along with the assistance of Terre Haute Police K-9s conducted an extensive search and was unable to locate Patterson.
On June 19, 2021, a local resident observed an object located in a body of water and immediately called 911.
Emergency personnel then retrieved Patterson’s body from the water.
The investigation is ongoing. There is no further information to release at this time.
