Ladoga News

On Oct. 12, 84-year-old William E. Hartlep was found fatally stabbed and beaten at his home just south of Jefferson High School. The Lafayette man's belongings were ransacked, and some items were stolen. A similar tragedy sent investigators to the Ladoga home of 94-year-old Samuel H. Kessler, a former Montgomery County councilman and commissioner, on Jan. 29. Kessler was fatally shot, and his belongings also were ransacked. Though Catherine Moran knew neither man, the unsolved homicides hit close to home. Moran is executive director of The Center@Jenks Rest, a community center for the elderly at Columbian Park. 'Just from my own personal perspective, when I read those stories, I thought 'We as a community need to be more aware of our older residents. We need to watch out for them. We need to have somebody checking on them,' ' she said. As of Tuesday, arrests had not been made -- and no suspects publicly named -- in either case. Lafayette police Chief Don Roush said Hartlep's stabbing death is still unsolved. Hartlep was a visible resident of the Edgelea neighborhood, often spotted outside his home near South 18th Street and Meadow Drive and waving at passers-by. First Sgt. Tom McKee of the Indiana State Police, one of the lead investigators in Kessler's shooting, said few developments have been made since Jan. 29 in that case. Detectives continue to search for a dark-colored, full-size pickup truck that someone saw in Kessler's driveway the night before, he said. Both Hartlep and Kessler lived alone. That factor could have made them more vulnerable to robbers, thieves and other criminals, said Officer Janet Shepherd of the West Lafayette Police Department. She's the instructor for the agency's RAD for Seniors personal safety course, which was launched locally last summer. (The acronym refers to rape, agression, defense, a widely used self-defense training system.) 'Some people thought that because the courses were held at a nursing home, that was my primary target. But it's actually the people who do live alone who we would like to have in class,' Shepherd said. According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics, people age 65 and older are least likely to be victims of both violent and property crimes, compared to other age groups. However, the elderly are more susceptible to crimes motivated by financial gain -- robbery and pickpocketing, for example. And those robberies are more likely to involve assault, compared to people 65 and under. The older age group also is more likely to be attacked by a stranger. So what can elderly residents do to protect themselves? Shepherd said her recommended precautions are similar to what young children are told: Don't tell a stranger you're home alone. Don't let someone inside the house whom you do not know. If someone stops by claiming to be with the cable company or a utility service, ask yourself, 'Did I request this service?' If the person claims to need help, call 911 for them, Shepherd said. The person can stay outside, in front of your house, while waiting for police or an ambulance. If a person at your front door says he or she is a police officer, call the police department yourself -- dispatchers should know if a particular officer is at a certain address. 'What I teach the RAD seniors is to know who is at their doors before they open them, or at least have a screen door that is locked so they can talk through it,' Shepherd said. 'Never let anyone you don't know in for any reason.' Shepherd also recommends keeping all doors locked and the garage door down, even when inside the house. Another helpful tip comes from Moran: She and other staff members at Jenks Rest often encourage visitors at the center to exchange phone numbers with each other and maintain consistent contact, should something happen. 'We tell them, if you live alone, come here and find a friend. You may live alone, but you're not alone,' Moran said. 'We try our best to encourage social connections. 'That way, you'll have someone who will notice -- and point out to us -- that they haven't heard from you in awhile.'

High winds. Lightning. Hail. A severe thunderstorm warning. A huge crowd waits for country duo Sugarland to take the stage.

However, there were no new developments to report, according to Sgt. Joe Watts, a public information officer for the Indiana State Police.

LADOGA, Ind. - Detectives with Indiana State Police continue to follow up on leads regarding the death of a former county commissioner in Montgomery County.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ind. - Police continue to investigate 94-year-old Samuel Kessler's death and are releasing more information about the case to the public.