Pulaski County Voters Narrow Sheriff’s Field, Nominate GOP Prosecuting Attorney

 Pulaski County voters overwhelmingly supported a first-time candidate and two people who have previously held the offices they are seeking. Former state conservation officer Jeff Richwine was the runaway winner in the Republican sheriff’s primary. He got 1,064 votes to Brian Gaillard’s 444. Jeff Heims finished third with 323. Richwine will face former two-term sheriff Paul Grandstaff in the Nov. 4 General Election. He got 446 votes, and his challenger Jeff Jenkins pulled in 126. Grandstaff also served four years as a county commissioner after his term as sheriff ended. Continue reading

Pulaski County Inmate Death Ruled Natural Causes

The preliminary autopsy results are in for a Pulaski County jail inmate who had been found dead in his bunk. Pulaski County Coroner Steve VanDerAa said the report revealed a pulmonary embolism, or blood clot, in his lungs and heart. The coroner is attributing the death to natural causes after William Olson’s body was taken to Lafayette for the autopsy Thursday afternoon.

Pulaski County jailers stumbled upon the body on Nov. 26, when they found Olson unresponsive in his bunk. Pulaski County EMTs were called to the jail, but they were unable to revive him.

Olson, 53, had been incarcerated in the jail since Sept. 2, 2010, having been convicted of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and a probation violation. He had only four months left of his sentence. Olson was a work-release inmate and worked at Vanquard Trailer Company in Monon.

Cause of Death Announced for 19-Year-Old Devin Holbrook

The toxicology results are still out for the late 19-year-old Devin M. Holbrook, but Pulaski County Coroner Steve VanDerAa has confirmed the cause of death: drug overdose.

Holbrook was found unresponsive and not breathing on Saturday, Sept. 29 after he had taken a break from landscaping at a residence in Francesville with 32-year-old Anthony Gentry. Gentry told officials that the pair had gone inside to watch television and Holbrook had fallen asleep, but when Gentry went to wake him up, he found him unresponsive. Gentry performed CPR until emergency crews arrived at the scene. EMS found that Holbrook couldn’t be revived and the coroner was called to the scene. Police did reportedly find drugs in the area where Holbrook was found and they field-tested positive for methamphetamine and heroin.

While the toxicology results are pending, the coroner has confirmed that Holbrook died from a drug overdose, but the exact levels of the drugs in his system have not yet been finalized.

Funeral Services Planned For Winamac Drowning Victim

Cynthia Jackson

Funeral services have been finalized for a Winamac woman who reportedly drowned in a pond on a property in Winamac. The body of fifty-four-year-old Cynthia L. Jackson was found by her son, Andrew Jackson, after she had gone swimming in a pond at 4242 W. 400 N. in Winamac.

Funeral services will be held at the Frain Mortuary in Winamac at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 27. Andrew Jackson will officiate the ceremony, and visitation will take place after 2 p.m. ET on the day of services at the funeral home. Contributions may be given to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Jackson was a resident of Winamac for 14 years and a former resident of Chesterton.

Pulaski County Coroner Steve VanDerAa says the incident remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.