Beech Grove, IN (December 30, 2019) — A long-time officer with the Beech Grove Police Department has been tapped to succeed retiring Chief Mark Swartz. Mayor Dennis Buckley on Monday named Deputy Chief Michael Maurice as the new chief of the department.
Maurice has been with the department since February 2002. According to a biography provided by the department, Maurice has worked 10 years on the middle shift, with seven of those as shift lieutenant. He has also served as field training officer, Fratneral Order of Police representative and as a member of the Special Response team.
The department said Maurice has served the past eight years as deputy chief. Buckley also named Capt. Robert Mercuri as assistant police chief. Mercuri has been with the Beech Grove Police Department since the start of his law enforcement career in 1991. Captain Mercuri worked in the road patrol division for ten years and in the investigations division for 19 years.
In 1998 Mercuri was promoted to Corporal and one year later promoted to Sergeant. By 2004 Mercuri became a Lieutenant and soon after was promoted to Captain.
In 2006 Mercuri graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He has been a supervisor at the Beech Grove Police Department since 2011. The announcement comes days after the previous police chief, Mark Swartz announced his retirement.
In 1897, an 8-year-old girl from Manhattan, Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun. The reply, written by Francis P. Church, the editor of the newspaper, was titled, "Is there a Santa Claus?”
The editorial took on a life of its own over time and is reportedly one of the most widely reprinted editorials in history. It also has been memorialized in books, movies and songs.
Today, we are publishing Virginia’s letter and the editor’s famous response.
Dear Editor:
I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth: Is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
115 West Ninety-Fifth Street
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except (what) they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little.
In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.
There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal life with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart.
Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond.
Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
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Beech Grove, IN (December 18, 2019) — On Saturday, December 28th the boys basketball team will travel to Knightstown, Indiana to take on the Brebeuf Jesuit Braves. Both Junior Varsity and Varsity will compete in the historic Hoosier Gym.
Inside Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana
Built in 1921, the gym is an embodiment of Indiana high school basketball and was made famous in the movie Hoosier’s.
Even the Indiana Pacers pay homage to the iconic movie by wearing the old Hickory Huskers uniforms. Proceeds from those games actually helped fund some needed restoration and repairs to the nearly 100 year old gymnasium.
The restored facility continues to be enjoyed by thousands of people for private events and spotlight games like the one between the Hornets and the Braves.
Outside Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana
Gym capacity is limited to 600 seats, and we are expecting a sold out crowd for the evening of the 28th. Beech Grove will have 100 presale tickets available.
These tickets can be purchased through the athletic department located in the main office of Beech Grove High School. Tickets will be sold at the door the day of the event but seats will be limited. We encourage you to buy your tickets early to ensure entry into the game. JV will begin play at 6:00 pm with Varsity to follow at 8:00 pm.
Beech Grove, IN (December 18, 2019) — Offensive lineman Josh Fryar from Beech Grove, Indiana is now officially a Buckeye. Fryar sent in his signed Letter of Intent to join Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class.
He stands 6-foot-5 tall and weighs 305 lbs, already in the range of most current OSU offensive linemen.
Here’s a look at what Fryar brings to Ohio State.
Ranking:
He is a 3-star prospect, considered the No. 20 guard and 3rd-best player in the state of Indiana this year.
Other Offers:
He picked the Buckeyes over offers from schools like Alabama, Oregon, Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin.
Positional Projection:
Fryar projects to play somewhere on the interior of the offensive line. He is ranked as a guard by recruiting services, but has played center as well. It’s likely that Harry Miller and Luke Wypler lock that spot down after Josh Myers leaves, but Greg Studrawa loves players who can fit in at multiple spots along the line and Fryar can certainly do that.
Commitment:
He committed to the Buckeyes in July 2019.
Enrolling:
Fryar will wait until summer 2020 to enroll at OSU.
Projected Impact:
With some spotty recruiting along the line in recent years and at least two, and possibly as many as four linemen headed to the NFL after this year, replenishing that room was a top priority.
Fryar is one of six linemen the Buckeyes are expecting to sign. With Jonah Jackson, and possibly Wyatt Davis gone after this year, there will be spots available on the two-deep at guard.
While it’s never wise to project a true freshman to win playing time up front, Fryar might be in a position to at least get on the field somewhat regularly fairly early in his career.
The safe bet is always to project an offensive lineman for a redshirt year. But don’t be surprised if Fryar is a regular contributor by 2021.
You can watch Fryar’s junior season highlight reel below.
Beech Grove, IN (December 15, 2019) — Vicky L. Davis, 68, went to be with her Lord on December 12, 2019, at her home in Franklin.
Vicky was born in on March 4, 1951 in Beech Grove, Indiana. She graduated from Beech Grove High School class of 1969. She attended IVY TECH College. Vicky married Timothy Mark Davis on August 14, 1987 and they began their lives together in Whiteland, Indiana.
Vicky was employed by Just Rite Restaurant in Whiteland and was an Instructional Assistant at Whiteland High School for 14 years. Vicky loved to read, cook, boat, decorate and was an avid NASCAR fan. Vicky was happiest spending time with her family.
Vicky was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Cora (Hunley) Cathcart.
Vicky is survived by her husband Timothy Mark Davis of Franklin, IN; sister, Jacqueline Gearhart; and a brother Donald “Pete” Cathcart Jr. Her children Jeff (Dawn) Hardcastle of Indianapolis, Breck (Christina) Hardcastle of Franklin, Kelly Davis (Chris) Cofer of Whiteland, Mark (Miriam) Davis of Texas, Julie (Joey) Owen of Franklin and Josh Davis of Greenwood. She had 14 grandchildren.
A service will be held Friday, December 20, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN where friends may call from 11:00 a.m. till service time at 1 p.m. at the mortuary. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood immediately after the service. Pastor Rick Davis will conduct the celebration of life service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Victory Christian Church 1720 North Graham Road Franklin, IN 46131. Online condolences may be sent to the family at SwartzMortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.
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Greenwood, IN (December 13, 2019) — The mayor of the Johnson county’s largest city announced Friday he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers, 58, said in a statement he was diagnosed with the central nervous system disorder last month, and that it wouldn’t affect his role as the city’s top leader.
Mark Myers, Mayor of Greenwood, Indiana
“As with every challenge life has presented, I intend to take a head-on approach and have never known any other way,” Myers said. “Thankfully, we discovered the disease early, which provides a much greater opportunity to treat and manage symptoms.”
Myers said he has an excellent team of doctors and has started kickboxing sessions at 9Round Fitness on the southside. Studies done by Butler University and the University of Indianapolis have found that intense exercise, particularly the kind that forces people out of their comfort zones such as boxing or kickboxing, can slow the progression of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative and relentless neurological disease in which the brain produces increasingly less of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for allowing the brain to communicate to the muscles throughout the body, so as less becomes present, it becomes more difficult to move normally.
Myers has reached out to both the Indiana Parkinson Foundation and Parkinson’s Awareness Association of Central Indiana seeking to learn more about the disease and offering his assistance in raising awareness, according to his statement.
“I feel strong, fit and more passionate than ever about leading Greenwood’s resurgence. As always, thank you for your support,” he said.
During the last seven years, the life-long Greenwood resident and son of a former mayor helped revive downtown Greenwood by working to fill vacant storefronts, beautifying facades and improving city streets. He added jobs, attracted Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon to the outskirts of the growing city and built a staff he raves about.
In Greenwood, conversations have centered around future development, particularly downtown and on the southeast side of the city.
Redevelopment of the 16-acre middle school property is part of the mayor’s years-long $24.5 million plan to turn downtown Greenwood into a place to live, work and play. His hope is the area will eventually be home to more than 580 apartments and townhouses, 75,000 square feet of retail shops, restaurants and office space, 9.9 acres of open green space and include 1.9 miles of new or renovated streets, something he hopes to see come to fruition in the next five years.
Myers was just re-elected and will start his third term next month. He plans to continue serving Greenwood as mayor.
Southport, IN (December 10, 2019) — Hoosier Hysterics Podcast -- Brian Snow: The Sequel
The Snowman is back, dishing out the latest on Hoosier recruits, his take on Indiana University and how Archie stacks up against Holtmann & Mack, plus giving us the monster lineup for this his very own basketball bonanza, the Forum Tipoff Classic this December 16th at Southport.
Beech Grove, IN (December 10, 2019) — The passenger trains the state of Wisconsin ordered more than a decade ago are coming home, if only for a little while. An Amtrak spokesperson confirmed Monday the trains built by Spanish train manufacturer Talgo to run in Wisconsin are back at the company's maintenance facility in Milwaukee.
Talgo originally built the trains to run on Amtrak's Hiawatha line between Milwaukee and Chicago, but they were caught up in a legal battle that was born out of Wisconsin's high-speed rail debate.
The state purchased the trains in 2009 under the leadership of former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. The state of Wisconsin defaulted on the Talgo contract in 2012 after Republican lawmakers decided not to pay for their maintenance.
The state settled a lawsuit with Talgo in 2015. Under the terms of the agreement, Wisconsin paid Talgo $50 million and Talgo got to keep the trains. According to an analysis by the Legislature's nonpartisan budget office, the deal and subsequent settlement expenses cost the state about $59 million.
As reported by WPR's "Derailed" podcast, Talgo had been storing the trains at Amtrak's Beech Grove, Indiana, maintenance facility for the past five years while it searched for someone to buy or lease the trains.
The trains are being considered for use as interim equipment on Amtrak’s Cascades line through the Pacific Northwest, after a 2017 derailment on that line took several trains out of commission.
The Federal Railroad Administration granted Amtrak a waiver in November 2018 that would allow it to operate the trains, although Amtrak has yet to announce whether it will take that step.
Asked Monday about the movement of the Talgo trains, Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari released a statement that confirmed the trains are in Milwaukee but stopped short of confirming that they were headed to the Cascades line.
"The Talgo Series 8 rail equipment that had been stored at the Amtrak facility in Beech Grove, Ind., has been moved to the Talgo facility in Milwaukee," said the statement from Amtrak. "These train sets are among the interim equipment options being considered by Amtrak for use in the Pacific Northwest."
While these trains won't run in Wisconsin, Talgo still has a presence in downtown Milwaukee where it performs maintenance on train sets that run in California. The company announced earlier this year that it was expanding, growing its workforce from about 30 people to 90.
Nora Friend, Talgo's vice president of public affairs and business development, released a statement from the company Monday that hinted at where the trains could be headed next.
"Talgo is working with Amtrak to place the Series 8 train sets in service in the Pacific Northwest," the statement read. "They have been moved to Milwaukee for preparation of that service later next year."
Part of the reason the trains might be put into service on Amtrak's Cascades line through Oregon and Washington is that Talgo built two identical trains that are currently running on that line. Those trains were also built at the Milwaukee facility.
While the trains that were moved over the weekend were originally designed to run on the Hiawatha line, the Doyle administration hoped its deal with Talgo would make Milwaukee a Midwest rail manufacturing hub.
Doyle also hoped Talgo would build trains to run on a new high-speed passenger rail line connecting Milwaukee to Madison. That prospect seemed close to reality after Wisconsin was awarded $810 million to build the rail line as part of the 2009 federal stimulus bill.
Beech Grove, IN (December 9, 2019) — The All-American Bowl Selection Tour was at Beech Grove High School on Monday to award four-star offensive lineman Josh Fryar with his jersey to play in this year’s game.
Fryar is tabbed as the No. 1 recruit in Indiana and No. 12 offensive guard in the country. He is committed to Ohio State.
“It was great,” Fryar said of his ceremony. “I loved it. It was kind of exciting seeing this whole All American thing. I’ve been seeing it for the past few years and I’m excited to be part of it.”
Fryar is part of roughly 90 of the nation’s best high school football players headed to San Antonio to play in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 4. NBC will have the national broadcast from inside the Alamo Dome.
“Competition,” Fryar said of what he’s looking forward to. “Just competing against the best guys in the nation and especially seeing how I match up against them.”
The 6-foot-5 1/2, 305-pound Fryar committed to the Buckeyes on July 4 over his other finalists Indiana, Oregon and Penn State. He remains fully locked in and will put pen to paper during the Early Signing Period on Dec. 18.
“The atmosphere around the program right now is electric,” Fryar said. “Coach (Greg) Studwara has the offensive line right and Coach Mick (Marotti) obviously I think is the greatest weight lifting coach, strength coordinator, whatever you want to call it in the nation. They’re just rolling right now and it’s all built on toughness.”
Fryar is part of an Ohio State class that ranks No. 4 nationally. He is joined by Paris Johnson Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Gee Scott Jr., Lathan Ransom, Luke Wypler, Cody Simon and Kourt Williams as an All-American.
Beech Grove, IN (December 9, 2019) — Josh Fryar is not the star of the 2020 class. He’s ranked as a three-star offensive lineman out of Beech Grove High School, and he’ll be a developmental prospect who’s been evaluated as someone who won’t see the field until further down the road in his Buckeye career but can be a really good long-term option.
So, with all that being said, the Buckeyes will have a hell of a developmental prospect waiting in the wings over the next year or two.
Fryar, the No. 3-ranked senior in Indiana, received his All-American Bowl jersey on Monday.
This kid may drive me crazy at times but we laugh hard at the dumb things. He will always be a big Loser in my book. Congratulations on making the #allamericanbowlpic.twitter.com/yYfvEdxCud
Fryar is one of eight 2020 Buckeye commits who have been named to the All-American Bowl roster, and he is one of three offensive line commits, joining Johnson and Luke Wypler.
Pretty impressive for a player whose ranking puts him at No. 17 in this Ohio State class out of 25. Speaks to the depth of this class.
Beech Grove, IN (December 8, 2019) — The United States Post Office is helping children get a personalized letter from the big guy — complete with a North Pole postmark.
Follow these steps to ensure your children get a response letter from Santa:
1. Have your child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
2. Later, when alone, open the envelope and write a personalized response. To save paper, write the response on the back of the original letter.
3. Insert the response letter into an envelope and address it to the child.
4. Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE to the envelope.
5. Affix a First-Class Mail stamp, such as a new Winter Berries Forever stamp to the envelope.
6. Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope — preferably a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope — with appropriate postage and address it to:
North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Drive
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998
Greetings from the North Pole Post Office must be received by the Anchorage, AK, Postmaster no later than Dec. 13. Santa’s helpers at the Postal Service will take care of the rest.
• When responding as Santa, make the response as personal as possible by highlighting your child’s accomplishments over the past year, for example, helping around the house, receiving good grades in a particular subject at school or participating in community service activities.
• This is a great activity to do that the whole family can enjoy, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other caregivers.
Beech Grove, IN (December 8, 2019) — The Samuel Bryan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will be offering to the public two types of genealogy sessions through the 2020 calendar in partnership with the Beech Grove Public Library.
The Lineage Research Workshop, formerly Ancestry Workshop, will have both afternoon and evening sessions, and representatives from the Samuel Bryan Chapter will provide genealogy research assistance using the library edition of Ancestry.com and other online resources.
Kim Shepherd, team leader for the upcoming sessions
The Samuel Bryan Chapter will be introducing the Genealogy Learning Series, focusing on several genealogy topics that would enhance any family historian’s research skills. These sessions are geared for both the beginner and the intermediate learner. Kim Shepherd stated that “these sessions are progressive or they can stand alone. Take some or take all,” of the Genealogy Learning Series. Nine sessions are being held at the Beech Grove Public Library.
Participants can register for both the Lineage Research Workshops and the Genealogy Learning Series sessions through the Beech Grove Library’s link HERE. Early registration is encouraged as there is limited seating available.
Beech Grove, IN (December 8, 2019) — A man is facing four charges, including murder, in connection with a bar gunfight that killed another man. Derek Oechsle, 32, of Beech Grove also was charged Thursday with attempted murder, battery and criminal recklessness in connection with the fatal shooting of Christopher Smith, 41, of Indianapolis on November 29 at Jake's Pub.
Witnesses told police Oechsle came into the bar and sat down across from a group celebrating Smith's bachelor party, The Indianapolis Star reported, citing a probable cause affidavit.
One member of the group who told police Oechsle stared at him and asked Oechsle whether he thought he was pretty. Oechsle got up, pulled out a gun and hit the man in the head with it, the affidavit said.
Smith was trying to separate the two when Oechsle allegedly fired and struck Smith several times, the affidavit said. Smith suffered one shot to the head and one shot that hit multiple organs.
Another witness pulled out his own gun and shot Oechsle, who then ran outside and fell, the affidavit said. Smith and Oechsle were taken to a hospital, where Smith was pronounced dead.
Oechsle was booked into the Marion County Jail. His attorney said he had no comment on the case at this time.
Beech Grove, IN (November 27, 2019) BGI — Across the U.S., more than 2,000 people have reported vaping-related lung illnesses, and 47 have died. Some vaping happens in schools, so they share the burden of bringing this crisis under control. Which raises the question: what should the consequences be for a student caught vaping?
Some of these devices look like a flash drive, no bigger than a couple of inches. The smoke or vapor they release has little to no smell. Basically, they’re really easy to hide and are a nightmare for educators.
Beech Grove, Indiana
On a recent day at Beech Grove Senior High School in Beech Grove, Indiana, Students are dashing between classes. Principal Lizz Walters says about once a week or so, students are caught with e-cigarettes like those made by Juul.
Students caught the first time face an in-school suspension, she says. That means they have to complete educational materials on vaping and their parents are included too. They also can be connected to counseling. For a second offense, they’ll be suspended out of school.
"I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a school that was not sort of supplementing those resources with some type of school punishment," Walters says.
Still, Walters says striking this balance between discipline and help for students is a tough, daily conversation. Principals and teacher realize schools are structured and at home students may have much more freedom.
"But then eventually, we have to make sure that students recognize they cannot continue to do things in a school environment that is detrimental to the school environment," Walters says. "And that's hard. That is very hard."
In Spencer-Owen Community Schools, about an hour south of Indianapolis, a high school student got sick this fall after vaping a marijuana-laced e-cigarette. He went to the school nurse, and was reported to other school officials.
The student’s mother, Shannon Houck told RTV6, "How are we supposed to tell our children if you have a medical problem -- even if it is smoking a vape in school, and I understand he did wrong by doing that -- we’re teaching them don’t go to the school officials, don’t go to the nurse because you can get in trouble."
And that’s an important question, because more kids are vaping than ever before. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 in 4 high school students have used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days.
So now schools are left to decide how to handle these students.
Spencer-Owen Community Schools says it followed policy. And in most Indiana school districts, a student who vapes in school would be suspended or expelled after one or more instances.
"Teenagers are frustrating and impulsive, and what they respond best to is what's hardest." -Dr. Sarah Bosslet
"As adults, we think that ought to work, right?" says Dr. Sarah Bosslet, past president of Indiana's Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics says. "Because If you just tell them, ‘Look, if you do this, you're going to get kicked out,’ they won't do it.
"But anyone who's raised a teenager knows that that's not an effective strategy. Teenagers are frustrating and impulsive. And what they respond best to is what's hardest: individual attention and extra effort when they are at risk."
Bosslet says the academy opposes no-tolerance policies in schools.
As a pediatrician, Bosslet sees students vaping by sixth grade. And she says suspending these students can lead to more dangerous behavior, like vaping at home or using drugs.
"The worst thing you can do is isolate them and exclude them from activities that keep them busy and engaged and connected to their peers and to adults that they trust," Bosslet says.
She says there should be some kind of consequence for vaping: community service, additional education. But she and others say suspension isn’t the answer.
"I think school nurses see themselves as the leader on the forefront of this as a health problem," says Deb Robarge, executive director of the Indiana Association of School Nurses.
She’s also worried about how this sort of discipline can affect students. "I think we're concerned that we want them to get their education, we don't want them to lose out on opportunities they have only as a child because they've gotten caught up in this craze."
So for schools, is this a discipline issue, or a public health issue?
"I think it's somewhere in between," Robarge says. "And I've tried to kind of poll nurses across Indiana. But also, across the country … I think what a lot of school nurses are feeling like it's a mixture."
Some help for schools might be on the way. Raising the age to buy e-cigarettes and tobacco products from 18 to 21 will be at the forefront of the 2020 Indiana legislative session. A similar federal law also has been proposed.
Topeka, Kansas (November 18, 2019) — 13 Investigates uncovered a disturbing discovery. A Kansas man with no medical license is doing business in Indiana and allowing his contractors to perform autopsies without credentials. It's all coming to light, as another state works to shut down his makeshift morgue.
For the first time, an Indiana family is sharing their shocking story about a case that's more than a little unsettling.
Inside a makeshift morgue in Topeka, Kansas, disturbing images appear. Plastic containers hold what appear to be human organs and tissue. "This is the autopsy suite," Shawn Parcells announced in a video tour of his facilities. The converted house is where he does what he calls "gross dissections."
For nearly a decade he's been performing autopsies without a license or proper medical credentials. A Kansas court has finally ordered him to stop and is now shutting down his lab. But that order only applies to the state of Kansas, and for some Indiana residents it's too late.
In a portion of the video, Parcells boasts of working with one of the top research schools in the Hoosier state. "This one is a case we did for Indiana University, a brain case," he said.
According to the Indiana University School of Medicine, the school did contract with Parcells and his company as part of a national Alzheimer’s Disease study. Assistant Director at IU School of Medicine, Kati Duffey, told 13 Investigates it was for a limited number of instances, and that the school has been in touch with authorities.
In a statement Duffey wrote:
“Due to confidentiality, we cannot discuss individuals or organ donors who participate in research. We are aware of the legal proceedings taking place in Kansas. We take seriously the responsibility donors and their families place in us.”
And it’s not just tissue samples from Indiana causing concerns here in Indiana. 13 Investigates confirmed Parcells company has also conducted autopsies in Indiana. "As far as Indianapolis is concerned, I think we only had two cases. ...," Parcells said.
Now for the first time, the family of one of those cases is speaking publicly. "It was shocking at first. What in the world did this guy just do to my family?" Nicole Cash said. Cash is referring to the autopsy performed on her grandmother, Dollie Lee Kinder.
Cash is angry after learning the man whose company her family hired to do the autopsy had no credentials to handle her grandmother's remains. "He is not who he says he is," she said.
Cash said the Kinder family found Parcell's company, National Autopsy Services, on the internet a day after Kinder died in a Beech Grove nursing home.
Kinder suffered from dementia but her family said her death came unexpectedly. National Autopsy Services of Topeka, Kansas touted "unbiased experts" in "forensic and legal medicine." So Kinder's family signed a contract and paid $3,600 to get the autopsy done within three days.
Little & Sons Funeral Home in Beech Grove confirmed to 13 Investigates that the autopsy was performed at one of its Indianapolis facilities.
"I'm very angry because I feel like this man should have been stopped a long time ago," Cash said referring to several stories that have been done across the country regarding Parcells. CNN first uncovered Parcells was lacking credentials when he acted as a spokesman, detailing the injuries suffered by police shooting victim, Michael Brown.
In Indiana, you must be a board certified pathologist to perform an autopsy. Court records in Kansas show Parcells has never been a licensed doctor, pathologist, medical examiner or physician assistant.
A spokeswoman with the funeral home said no one checked credentials for the autopsy because it was a "private contract" and that the funeral home merely "provided space."
In a statement, the spokeswoman said:
"We sympathize with the (Kinder) family. Shawn Parcells is not and has never been employed by Little & Sons or any Dignity Memorial location."
Autopsies, if requested by the family, are arranged individually between the family and a pathologist and are performed under a separate contract, entirely independent of the funeral home." Now new questions are being raised about Parcells and his business practices. Cash caught up with him outside of a Kansas courthouse.
"Shawn, my name is Nicole," she said. "You did an autopsy on my grandmother, Dollie Kinder in Indianapolis. We have to have my grandmother's casket opened up because we don't even know if you just scammed us for the money or if you actually performed an autopsy on my grandmother.
What do you have to say right now?" "An autopsy was done, there was no scam," Parcells responded. But Parcells later told 13 Investigates, there was no autopsy of Kinder.
He claimed he hired a third party to remove only tissue and portions of Kinder's brain, but admitted the person who did the work was not a licensed doctor nor pathologist. "No, he's a surgical technician," Parcells said.
Parcells said he's working to get the Kinder family answers and never intended for anyone to be hurt. "He should be criminally charged and put into prison,"Cash said. "You don't think someone so cold hearted could do something like this to grieving families?"
The director of the Indiana Coroner's Training Board told 13 Investigates it is against the law for anyone other than a board certified pathologist to do an autopsy in Indiana.
Cash said she has reported Parcells to the Attorney General's Office. No word tonight on what action is being taken. Under the Kansas court order, Parcells must turn over all of the tissue from his lab to the Kansas Department of Health.
Meanwhile Cash and her family want a full review of Kidner's case.
