SUSPICIOUS DEATH
CASE #: 2002-24
Kelly Jo Finton
Status:
Open
Date of Death:
Date of Death:
Jurisdiction:
Death Location:
Albion, Indiana
Summary:
Kelly Jo Finton, a 25-year-old from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was found dead in the trunk of her car on August 15, 2001, near Chain O' Lakes State Park in Noble County. The coroner ruled her death accidental from heat exhaustion, though evidence suggested she may have been alive when her car was towed, leading her family to file a negligence lawsuit against the sheriff's department.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Death:
Kelly Finton was last seen at 11:15 p.m. on August 14, 2001, at her place of employment in the White Swan Plaza on Lima Road north of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The next morning, her Nissan Maxima was reported as a disabled vehicle on State Road 9 near Chain O' Lakes State Park south of Albion. At 9:17 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to the abandoned vehicle and found Finton's purse and checkbook inside. The vehicle was towed to Leatherman's Automotive in Albion at 10 a.m. At 4:40 p.m., the trunk was opened and Finton's body was discovered. Nearly eight hours had elapsed between the initial vehicle discovery and the discovery of her body in the trunk. The Noble County Coroner's office discovered evidence suggesting Finton may have been alive when the car was towed, including a partition found moved near the trunk that had not been moved during the initial search.
Additional Details:
In November 2001, Noble County Coroner John Brazzell ruled Finton's death accidental, citing heat exhaustion as the cause of death. During their investigation, deputies spoke with Finton's former boyfriend, who stated she had been known to hide and sleep for 12 to 14 hours at a time. In February 2002, Finton's parents, Billie and Ray Finton, filed a Notice of Tort Claim against Noble County Sheriff's Department, alleging negligence. The tort claim asserted that the sheriff's department failed to properly investigate her abandoned vehicle and properly conduct a full inventory of the vehicle, which would have resulted in timely discovering her in the trunk. The family was represented by attorney Jack Morris of Fort Wayne.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Parents Billie and Ray Finton file tort claim against Noble County Sheriff's Department
Noble County Coroner John Brazzell rules death accidental from heat exhaustion
Trunk opened; Kelly Finton's body discovered
Vehicle towed to Leatherman's Automotive in Albion
Sheriff's deputies find abandoned Nissan Maxima near Chain O' Lakes State Park; cursory vehicle search begins
Kelly Finton last seen at White Swan Plaza, Lima Road, Fort Wayne
Related Vehicles
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Associated Persons
Joan F. (Grandmother) - Deceased
Ray F. (Father) - Living
Billie F. (Mother) - Deceased
Billy R. (Boyfriend) - Living
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