Indiana Conservation Officers have recovered the body of Robert L. Austin, 26, of Connersville, from the Whitewater River. 

Family notification has been made and an exact cause of death is pending autopsy results. 

This incident is still under investigation and further inquiries should be directed to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted in the recovery by the Everton Fire Department and Fayette County Coroner’s Office.

Indiana Conservation Officers had been searching for a missing man in the vicinity of Mahan Park, commonly referred to as “Three-Mile Bridge,” near Highway 121 in Connersville.

After receiving notification from Fayette County Dispatch at approximately 5:45 p.m., Thursday, Conservation Officers arrived on the scene and discovered a vehicle and several articles belonging to Austin.

Conservation Officers, with assistance from other agencies, are currently searching the Whitewater River with boats and sonar, as well as utilizing an ISP helicopter and drones. 

While donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to give this summer, the need for blood and platelets remains crucial for patients relying on lifesaving transfusions.

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now.

Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

To thank donors who help refuel the blood and platelet supply this month, all who come to give July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email and will also receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value).

More information and details are available at rcblood.org/fuel.

Also, all those who come to donate throughout the entire month of
July will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm.

To learn more, visit rcblood.org/CedarFair.

Donors who give now will help stock the shelves for the rest of the summer season.

Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 16-31

American Legion Post 42, 4530 Paoli Pike Floyds Knobs, IN 47119
7/31/2021: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

American Red Cross, 291 North Hubbard's Lane Louisville, KY 40207
7/30/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Beechland Baptist Church, 4613 Greenwood Road Louisville, KY 40258
7/28/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Downtown Louisville Blood Donation Center, 520 E. Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40202
7/16/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/17/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/18/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/19/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/20/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.

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7/21/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
7/22/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/23/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/24/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/25/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/26/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/27/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/28/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
7/29/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/30/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/31/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

East End Louisville Blood Donation Center, 291 North Hubbards Lane Louisville, KY 40207

7/16/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/17/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/18/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/19/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/20/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/21/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
7/22/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/23/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/24/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/25/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/26/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/27/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
7/28/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
7/29/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/30/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
7/31/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Fern Creek Christian, 9419 Seatonville Road Louisville, KY 40291
7/25/2021: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Middletown, 11721 Main Street Louisville, KY 40243
7/29/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

First Southern Baptist Church, 215 E Ettels Lane Clarksville, IN 47129
7/20/2021: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Green Tree Mall, 757 E. Lewis & Clark Parkway Clarksville, IN 47129
7/23/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Hill City, 6639 St. Mary's Road Floyds Knobs, IN 47119
7/25/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Hillcrest Community Blood Drive – Clubhouse, 12618 Ridgemoor Drive Prospect, KY 40059
7/25/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Hillview Recreation Department – ZAXBY'S of Hillview, 298 Prairie Drive Louisville, KY 40229
7/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

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Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 3345 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206
7/25/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Incarnation Catholic Church, 2229 Lower Hunters Trace Louisville, KY 40216
7/19/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Jefferson Mall, 4801/B-302 Outer Loop Louisville, KY 40219
7/27/2021: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Jeffersonville High School, 2315 Allison Lane Jeffersonville, IN 47130
7/23/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Knights of Columbus New Albany, 809 East Main Street New Albany, IN 47150
7/19/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

National Tobacco, 5201 Interchange Drive Louisville, KY 40229
7/27/2021: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Nationwide -Schneider, 10350 Ormsby Park Place Lower Level Louisville, KY 40223
7/22/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Old Louisville Brewery, 625 West Magnolia Avenue Louisville, KY 40208
7/30/2021: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Saint Bernard Parish Community, 7500 Tangelo Drive Louisville, KY 40228
7/26/2021: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Southeast Christian – Blankenbaker, 920 Blankenbaker Parkway Louisville, KY 40243
7/26/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

St. Edward, 9608 Sue Helen Drive Louisville, KY 40299
7/21/2021: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

St. Francis in the Fields, 6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road Harrods Creek, KY 40027
7/22/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

St. Mary Academy, 11311 Saint Mary Lane Prospect, KY 40059
7/17/2021: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

St. Michael Orthodox Church, 3701 St. Michael Church Drive Louisville, KY 40220
7/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

St. Paul Catholic Church, 6901 Dixie Highway Louisville, KY 40258
7/18/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1534 Slate Run Road New Albany, IN 47150
7/29/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Charlestown, 8209 Highway 403 Charlestown,
IN 47111
7/30/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

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The Crossroads of Louisville, 13908 Dixie Highway Louisville, KY 40272
7/29/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

UofL Health UofL Hospital, 530 S. Jackson Street Louisville, KY 40202
7/30/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Watkins United Methodist Church, 9800 Westport Road Louisville, KY 40241
7/27/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Westport Road Baptist Church, 9705 Westport Road Louisville, KY 40222
7/26/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

On July 8, 2021, Deputy Zach Brown went to a residence in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Ronald Broadus, 48, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Theft and Escape, Flees Lawful Detention. 

On July 9, 2021, First Sergeant John Hartman served an outstanding arrest warrant at the Scott County Jail.  Ronald Taylor, 43, of Scottsburg was arrested for an outstanding arrest warrant for Failure to Appear. 

On July 10, 2021, Deputy Zach Brown went to a residence in rural Scott County in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Russell Terry, 39, of Lexington, IN, was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Escape, Failure to Return to Lawful Detention. 

On July 10, 2021, Deputy Zach Brown went to an address in rural Scott County in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Don Strong, 58, of Lexington, IN, was arrested for an outstanding arrest warrant for Escape, Flees Lawful Detention.

On July 12, 2021, Deputy Eric Balingit went to an address in rural Scott County in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Jennifer Brown, 47, of Lexington, IN, was arrested for an outstanding out of county arrest warrant. 

A 28-year-old Medora man is in jail after a juvenile female told authorities he had touched her inappropriately at a rural Jackson County home.

James D. Lane, age 28, Medora, turned himself in on July 8 after a 3-month investigation. 

He was charged with one count of Child Molesting after being investigated by detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post.

The investigation began in April 2021, when Indiana State Police Detective Nathaniel Adams was requested to conduct an investigation into allegations that a female juvenile had been molested by Lane. 

During an interview with the victim, conducted by the Child Advocacy Center in Bloomington, Indiana, the victim stated that she was touched inappropriately by Lane on an unknown date at a rural residence in Jackson County, Indiana.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was presented to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review. 

As a result, a warrant was issued for James Lane on one count of Child Molesting. 

On July 8, 2021, Lane turned himself into law enforcement. 

He was incarcerated in Jackson County pending his initial appearance in court.

Det. Adams was assisted by other investigators with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post and the Child Advocacy Center/Susie’s Place, Bloomington, Indiana.