WARD, Juanita - murdered
Source: Covington Friend Thursday, Feb. 1, 1979
The investigation into the murder of Mrs. Juanita Ann Ward was officially closed Monday by the Covington Police, Indiana State
On Jan. 9, Mrs. Ward was found in her bedroom, beaten to death by numerous blows to the head by a Pepsi bottle, a coffee pot and a wooden foot stool. The murder occurred at 1412 Short Court at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Salts. Mrs. Salts was a stepdaughter of Mrs. Ward.
On Jan. 15, a member of Mrs. Ward’s family died from self-inflicted gun shot wounds. This death, In Crawfordsville, was investigated by the same team of investigators assigned to the death of Mrs. Ward.
Stephen Lee Clark, 38, the husband of Mrs. Ward’s step-granddaughter was to have undergone questioning by state police on the day he took his own life, according to police.
Investigation into Mrs. Ward’s murder had placed Clark at the Salts home at 1412 Short Court just shortly before Mrs. Ward was beaten to death, according to city police.
“After hundreds of hours of investigation, we still do not have a specific motive for the murder. But we are satisfied that the two deaths were connected and that there is no need to look further into the murder,” Prosecutor Bunch said.
The investigation of both deaths continued until Monday, at which time it was determined by all law enforcement officials that no further investigation was indicated.
“The investigation into the Ward murder revealed that there was no forced entry of the dwelling; that nothing had been taken from the premises or body of Mrs. Ward, and that she had not been molested. The investigating officers then concluded that the assailant was a person well known by the victim and one who had access to the home,” Prosecutor James Bunch said.
“As part of the investigation, in depth interviews of 35 individuals were conducted and numerous scientific tests were conducted by the Indiana State Police Laboratory,” State Police Detective Gerald VanMeter said.
“We feel the investigation has proven that the murder case of Mrs. Ward should now be marked closed,” Covington Police Chief Max Keller said. Police officials refused to comment further on the case. – thanks to S
Source: Covington Friend Thursday, Jan. 18, 1979
Funeral services for Juanita Ann Ward, 65, of 1412 Short Court, Covington, who passed away at her residence Tuesday, January 9, were held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church, Attica with the Rev. Kenneth Burris officiating. Barbara Nehemiah played favorite selections on the organ.
Those who served as pallbearers were Don Dice, Dan Dice, John Butler, Robert Quick, John Carlson and Kenneth Phillips Jr. Interment was in West Lebanon Cemetery. – thanks to S
Source: Covington Friend Thursday, Feb. 8, 1979
Test results from the Indiana State Police lab leave detectives investigating the murder of a 65-year-old Covington woman with no doubt a Crawfordsville man was involved in the murder of the woman.
A state police detective, who asked not to be named, said lab results indicated samples from a blood-soaked towel found in the bathroom of the victim’s home and the blood type of Stephen L. Clark, 38 of Crawfordsville, who committed suicide Jan. 15, matched. The victim’s blood type was O and the blood on the towel and of the dead man was AB type.
“I’m 100 percent sure that the two deaths were related and the Crawfordsville man was involved in the murder of Juanita Ann Ward,” one investigator said. “Before we believed that Mr. Clark may have been involved, but I think this physical evidence leaves no doubt.”
The officer said Mr. Clark also had a deep cut on one of the fingers on his left hand, leading police to believe the hand may have been cut on a cola bottle identified as one of the weapons used to murder the woman.
Mrs. Ward was beaten several times about the head with the bottle, a coffee pot, and a wooden foot stool in a bedroom of the Charles Salts home, where she had been living.
Police said they could place the suicide victim in the home sometime during the day on Jan. 9. At the time the case was officially closed by Fountain County Prosecutor James Bunch on Jan. 29, police believed Clark was the killer, but they had no physical evidence to support their beliefs.
Mr. Clark shot himself with a .357 magnum pistol on Jan. 15. On that same day, he as to have had an interview with a state police detective concerning the death of Mrs. Ward. – thanks to S
Source: Covington Friend Thursday, Jan. 18, 1979
A 65-year-old Covington woman found dead on the floor of her bedroom Wednesday, Jan. 10, was beaten to death with a blunt instrument by an attacker, police said.
Police also said they do not have a motive for the murder of the woman, Juanita Ann Ward, 1412 Short Court, who was killed either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
It is believed she may have been slain Tuesday night when her daughter and other family members who also lived there were away from home for several hours.
State Police Detective Herb Clear said the daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Salts, and their two sons, had left Mrs. Ward alone in the home Tuesday night.
He said a grandson noticed a television light through a closed door was on in Mrs. Ward’s bedroom of the bi-level home Tuesday night but did not check on her. The grandson found Mrs. Ward dead in her room when he went to awaken her about 10 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
Mrs. Ward was fully clothed and there was no evidence that she had been molested except for having been struck on her head.
Detective Clear said there was no evidence of forced entry of the house but that an intruder could have entered through an unlocked garage door.
The detective also said police have suspects in mind in the murder, but he declined to elaborate.
Fountain County Coroner Robert DeVerter took the body of the woman to Bloomington to conduct an autopsy.
Police would not say whether they were investigating any possible connection between the death of the Covington woman and the apparent suicide Monday of a Crawfordsville man.
According to Russell Powers, the Montgomery County coroner, Stephan Clark, 38, a former Covington resident, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 2:12 p.m. Monday at Culver Hospital, Crawfordsville.
Clark, who was married to Mrs. Ward’s step granddaughter, shot himself in the head with a .357 pistol sometime between 8:30 and 9 a.m. at his home in Crawfordsville, according to Powers.
Police had no further information to release concerning any possible connection between the two cases and according to state police Lafayette post commander, Sgt. Dale M. Rabanus, “anything else is speculation.”