Culvert replacements to close Rooster Hill Road, S.R. 135 in Washington County
Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to close sections of Rooster Hill Rd. and S.R. 135 to complete a series of culvert replacement projects in Washington County. The road is scheduled to close at the following locations, weather permitting:
- Starting on/after Monday, July 10 (up to 5 days): Rooster Hill Rd. between N. Plattsburg Rd. and S.R. 135
- Starting on/after Monday, July 17 (up to 5 days): S.R. 135 closed between N. Old S.R. 135 and E. Dearland Ln.
- Starting on/after Monday, July 24 (up to 5 days): S.R. 135 closed just north of Dearland Ln.
The official detour will follow S.R. 56, S.R. 39 and U.S. 50 for the closures on S.R. 135.
INDOT reminds motorists to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free in and near construction zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.
S.R. 160 closing in Washington and Clark County for structure replacements
The Indiana Department of Transportation announces plans to close S.R. 160 starting next week to complete a series of small structure replacements west of I-65, between Salem and Henryville.
The road is scheduled to close at the following locations, weather permitting:
- Starting on/after Wednesday, July 12 (up to 5 days): S.R. 160, 10.5 miles east of S.R. 60 in Washington County
- Starting on/after Wednesday, July 19 (up to 20 days): S.R. 160, 5.5 miles west of I-65 in Washington County
- Starting on/after Monday, August 7 (up to 15 days): S.R. 160, 13.5 miles east of S.R. 60 at Clark/Scott County line
Washington County Inmate Roster – 7-3-23
Washington County Inmate Roster
July 3
Washington County Sheriff’s Department
Kimberly I Wright, 48, Greenville
- Possession of cocaine or narcotic drug
July 2
Indiana State Police
Jessica A. Kirby, 46, Salem
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of marijuana hash oil hashish or salvia
- Possession of paraphernalia
Edward S Meade, 39, E-Town, Kentucky
- Out of County Charges Only
June 30
Indiana State Police
Carol Nicole Murphy, 37, Salem
- Operating While Intoxicated Per Se
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with previous conviction
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person
June 29
Washington County Sheriff’s Department
Marla Renee Jones, 49, Salem
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of paraphernalia
- Operating motor vehicle while license suspended or revoked
- Possession of marijuana hash oil hashish or salvia
Juveniles injured in off-road vehicle accident in Jennings County
Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that injured two juveniles, one seriously, in Jennings County.
Shortly after 11 a.m., responders were dispatched to the area near the 9000 block of County Road 850 West in Paris Crossing for an accident with injuries.
Initial investigation shows a 14-year-old juvenile was operating a side-by-side ORV on the roadway when they lost control, causing the vehicle to roll onto the driver’s side and pinning them underneath. The juveniles were not wearing helmets or safety harnesses at the time of the accident.
The juvenile operator was transported via StatFlight helicopter to Norton Hospital in Louisville. The juvenile passenger was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
Other assisting agencies include Indiana State Police, Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, and Jennings County Emergency Medical Service.
Indiana law requires riders younger than 18 to wear a Department of Transportation approved helmet. More information on ORV laws and safe operating procedures is at offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/
Donald Blaine Perry, 87, of Bedford
Donald Blaine Perry, (87), of Bedford, Indiana, passed away on June 20, 2023.
Donald (Don) was born to John Samuel Perry and Edna Myrtle Perry on July 21, 1935, in Oolitic, Indiana.
He was a Christian man who loved God above all else. Don was a lifelong hard worker, whether working in the Property Assessor’s Office for the State of Montana or working to help one of his kids or grand kids on a school, church, or home project.
Don was a generous and friendly man who never met a stranger; and he would stop to help anyone in need, regardless of convenience. He had an ornery sense of humor and loved to play tricks on anyone and everyone. Don was a talented athlete, a brilliant mathematician and problem solver, and a competitive game player. Most of all, he was a proud husband, dad, and grandpa, who loved his family more than anything in the world. Don is survived by his wife Judy Dolores Perry and seven children, Deanna, Jeff, Rob, Joyce, Jamie, Julie, and Rebekah. He is also survived by his sister Joy Richardson. Don was preceded in death by his parents, John and Edna; two of his brothers, Marion and Dillard; and two of his children, Donnie and Kathy. Don is also survived by thirty grandchildren and preceded in death by one grandchild. His family lit up his whole life, and he will be deeply missed by all of them. Don’s family will host a funeral service on Wednesday, June 28 at 1:30pm at Dawalt Funeral Home in Salem, Indiana. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1:30pm
Mary Frances Rutherford, age 94, of Salem
Mary Frances Rutherford, age 94, of Salem, passed away Monday, June 26 at Salem Crossing.
Mrs. Rutherford was born January 29, 1929 in Pekin the daughter of William Galen and Ethel Frances Brown Owsley.
She was a member of Lost River Missionary Baptist Church, Eastern Star #286, and Christopher Harrison DAR. She was retired from West Washington School Corporation as the Superintendents Secretary.
She is preceded in death by her husband; Robert H. Rutherford, they were married January 30, 1949. She is also preceded by brothers: Billy Galen Owsley, and Philip Owsley, and her parents.
She is survived by two sons: Larry Scott Rutherford (Debbie) of Pekin, and Lynn Robert Rutherford of Salem, two daughters: Karen Robbins (Jerry) of Salem, and Jarita Spaulding (Larry) also of Salem, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM Friday at Weathers Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Claysville Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4-8PM and Friday from 10AM-until time of service at the funeral home.
Derek Horner, 30, Salem
Derek Horner, 30, of Salem, Indiana
Born September 3, 1992 in Salem, Indiana, he was the son of the late James P. Horner Jr. and Janet K. (Brewer) Horner, who survives.
He had been a life resident of Washington County,
was a former employee of Temple and Temple in Salem and a 2010 graduate of the Hoosier youth Challenge Academy in Atterbury, Indiana before he served in the Armed Forces as a Fox 13 in the Indiana National Guard.
Survivors include:
Wife: Kara Carlton, of Salem, 2 daughters: Lilith Horner and Layla Horner of Salem; Mother: Janet K. Brewer of Salem; Half sister: Ashley Hart of Campbellsburg, Indiana; Half sister: Kayia Jaye King of Seymour, Indiana; Grandparents: Pat & Iva Lee Horner of Salem; and Grandmother: Regina Ruddell of Westville, Indiana;
Nephew: Landen King;
Niece: Paislee King.
1 Aunt: Zellma Delph,
2 uncles: Mike and Jerry Horner
1 niece: Paislee King and nephews: Andrew and Jason Lewis, Bentley Wills and Landen King.
He was preceded in death by His father and grandparents: Betty and Arvel Jackson, Alfreda and Clair Horner, Jim Brewer and Gracie Delph Henry.
Funeral Service: 7pm Thursday at Dawalt Funeral Home with Pastor Don Hicks officiating.
Visitation: 4 pm – 7- pm Thursday at Dawalt Funeral Home
Interment will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial Contributions to:
American Cancer Society
C/O Jeanette Nolan
945 North Rush Creek Road
Salem, Indiana 47167
www.cancer.org
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FINDS ANSWERS IN 52-YEAR-OLD CASE INVOLVING MYSTERIOUS CABIN FIRE
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department announced last June that they were working to solve a cold case from December 18th, 1971.
Sheriff Rick Meyer assigned the cold case to Lieutenant Adam Nicholson and gave him the go ahead to purse a renewed investigation.
The case involved a mysterious cabin fire that occurred on December 18th, 1971, in Jackson County, IN, about 1.5 miles south of Brownstown on State Road 135. The cabin was a 9′ x 15′ structure built from railroad ties and used as a hangout and camping site for teens.
According to the original State Police reports, two teens, Stanley R. Robison, 17, and Jerry Autry, 19, were believed to have perished in the fire.
A third teen, Michael W. Sewell, 16, was camping with Robison and Autry the night of the fire, but the original reports only indicated the remains of two (2) individuals were found. In addition, the reports describe the bodies as being badly burned and close to incineration.
The only means of identification for Robison and Autry were done by class rings located at the scene.
Later in the day, approximately two (2) hours after investigators left the scene of the cabin, Sewell was reported missing by his family and has not been seen or heard of since.
“Several rumors and questions have been raised over the years adding to the mystery of the events of that evening,” said Nicholson. “After taking a deep look at everything and processing all the old reports and evidence, it seemed logical to think Sewell also perished in the fire.” “Other than the opinions of the original investigator there was no proof Sewell wasn’t in the fire, and our focus is to prove he was or wasn’t.” “It was decided to exhume the remains of Mr. Autry and Mr. Robison to check for any additional evidence of a third person.” “Sewell was only 16 years old and it’s difficult to imagine he would still be missing 52 years later, if he had simply run away.”
Lt. Nicholson sought the advice and assistance of Dr. Krista Latham with the University of Indianapolis. Dr. Latham, a professor of Biology and Anthropology and Board-Certified Forensic Anthropologist, agreed to help with further investigation into the case. Dr. Latham and a team of Anthropologists assisted with the exhumation of Robison and Autry on June 21st, 2022, at Fairview Cemetery in Brownstown. After the exhumation Dr. Latham took possession of the remains and transported them to the University of Indianapolis Human Identification Center for analysis. The families of the deceased were notified beforehand and gave consent for the exhumation. The families also provided their DNA so it could be compared with the remains exhumed.
Dr. Latham completed her analysis of the remains on November 22nd, 2022. Dr. Latham’s report on the findings confirmed a minimum of three (3) individuals within the two (2) caskets that were exhumed.
She came to this conclusion by identifying triplicate (3) copies of several bones.
This is consistent with three (3) individuals being represented in the two (2) caskets. Dr. Latham noted there was no trauma observed that couldn’t be attributed to the fire.
Dr. Latham selected the least burnt bones as candidates for possible DNA extraction to compare with the DNA of the families. The selected bones were then submitted to the Indiana State Police Lab for DNA testing.
The Indiana State Police Lab attempted DNA analysis on several bones but only one was in good enough condition to produce results. On June 12th, 2023, the State Police Lab completed analysis on DNA extracted from the bone.
The result identifies one of the decedents as Stanley Robison.
The lab will continue to look for possibilities of extracting more DNA with future technology. Nicholson said, “I’m pleased and very thankful for the help that Dr. Latham, the University of Indianapolis, and the Indiana State Police Lab provided.”
“The thorough analysis they provided has answered some questions for the families involved, which was well deserved and long overdue.” Sheriff Rick Meyer said, “I’m glad we can finally give some closure to the families involved. I commend Lt. Nicholson and all the assisting agencies who helped find answers in this 52-year-old case.”
Assisting with the investigation: Jackson County Coroner Office, FBI, University of Indianapolis, and Indiana State Police Lab.
Ohio Murder Suspect Arrested During I-65 Traffic Stop
On Monday, June 19, 2023, a traffic stop by an Indiana State Trooper led to the arrest of a driver who was wanted on a warrant for murder out of Maple Heights, Ohio.
The investigation began when Master Trooper Randel Miller conducted a traffic stop on a 2016 Hyundai passenger vehicle for a traffic violation on I-65 Northbound in northern Jackson County.
The vehicle, being driven by Shannon W. Liccardo, age 34, Twinsburg, Ohio exited I-65 onto State Road 11 where it then came to a stop.
Liccardo initially provided Trp. Miller with a false name before revealing his true identity. A check on Liccardo revealed that he was wanted on a warrant for murder out of Maple Heights, Ohio in the northeast part of that state. The warrant was issued on June 16, 2023.
Trp. Miller took Shannon Liccardo into custody without incident. He was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he is being held on the warrant, pending extradition back to Ohio.
Inquiries about the investigation that led to this charge should be made to the Maple Heights, Ohio Police Department
Trp. Miller was assisted by Sgt. Adam Bullock and Master Trooper Jason Hankins.
