Woman found dead in Fort Harrison State Park ruled homicide
LAWRENCE, Ind. (WISH) — The Marion County Coroner’s Office has determined that the woman who was found in Fort Harrison State Park on Wednesday was the victim of a homicide.
The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Tina Moore of Indianapolis.
An autopsy ruled the cause of death as asphyxiation. Investigators believe Moore was placed in the park after being killed.
Investigators said Moore went to bed Tuesday just like any other night.
“The next morning, her husband woke up and she was not in the residence,” said Capt. Gary Woodruff, Lawrence Police Department.
She wasn’t down the block, she wasn’t even in the neighborhood. On Wednesday right before noon, a woman walking her dog came across the body. She called 911 immediately. Authorities from several different departments came out to collect evidence. They were on the scene for about four hours.
A missing persons report for Moore was filed with the Lawrence Police Department on Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after the body had been found.
The unsettling news caught park visitors off guard, but what puzzles police is how she got there and why.
“It doesn’t look like there were any at-risk factors to contribute to her death,” said Capt. Woodruff.
Indiana Conservation Officers and the Lawrence Police Department are continuing to investigate the case.
Investigators have not identified a suspect. Right now they’re asking for your tips. If you saw any suspicious vehicle in that area over the past couple days, contact your local law enforcement. They’re also checking if surveillance cameras near the park caught a glimpse of who went there Wednesday.
“Looking at some of the main routes of travel in the area, we’re open to every possibility and we’re looking at every angle,” said Capt. Woodruff.
If there’s one thing investigators want to emphasize, it’s that the park is a safe place and that Wednesday’s tragic discovery shouldn’t cast the popular spot in a bad light.
“We would encourage people to be vigilant but continue to use and enjoy the state park,” he said.
