Farmer finds missing woman's body in field
FAYETTE COUNTY, IND. — A farmer harvesting corn found a body in a field that officials believe is a missing local woman.
Fayette County Sheriff's Department learned of the discovery in the 8400 block of West County Road 650 S. shortly before noon Tuesday. The farmer came to a stop when he saw the body, according to a news release from the sheriff's department.
Fayette County Coroner's Office and crime scene technicians from the Indiana State Police responded to the scene, and the woman was preliminary identified as Danielle Holt, 34, of Connersville. The body was taken to the morgue at Fayette Regional Health System, where an autopsy is scheduled Wednesday to determine the cause of death.
Holt had been missing since Oct. 20, when the sheriff's department had responded to a call at Holt's home for an alleged domestic dispute. Holt was going to voluntarily leave the residence that evening. She was offered a ride to another residence by Deputy Chad Blaes. However, Holt fled after going to the rear of the home to retrieve some property, the release said.
Blaes and Holt's husband, Waylon, searched the area and could not find her.
Waylon Holt advised Blaes that Danielle had fled previously, the release said. Blaes said he spoke extensively that evening with Danielle Holt and at no time did she threaten any harm to herself or seem under the influence of anything. She also was on GPS monitoring through Fayette County Community Corrections but removed her GPS bracelet after fleeing the residence.
Later that day, Waylon Holt filed a missing person complaint about his wife. He told the sheriff's department he believed she possibly had fled to the home of a friend or relative. Sgt. Bobby Revalee reviewed her GPS movements with Fayette County Community Corrections, and the last movement seen was near the north of the residence.
Detective Capt. Billy Wayson assumed control of the investigation Oct. 21, speaking with several of Danielle Holt's relatives. All said they had not talked with her. Neighbors also were contacted and instructed to call the sheriff's department if she contacted them. Also that day, she was placed into the National Crime Information Center.
On Oct. 22, about 20 members of FCSD and the Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department searched a large wooded area near Holt's residence. Wayson and Detective Sgt. Leonard Baker talked again with Waylon Holt.
His cell phone and computer, along with his wife's cell phone, were searched. A male subject's number was located in her phone, who told police that she had attempted to get him to pick her up on Oct. 19, but he couldn't do so. Wayson and Baker then searched two large picked corn fields located to the north and west of the Holt residence. No evidence was found.
Over the next several days, a few anonymous tips were received, the release said, but none came to fruition.
On Monday, farmer George Coon found a pair of women's jeans while combining a cornfield. Wayson and Coon looked around the area and didn't locate any other clues. Waylon Holt identified the jeans as his wife's. Wayson had scheduled voice stress tests for several individuals related to the case on Wednesday, before Holt's body was found.
The sheriff's department said the investigation still is considered open and officials will await the coroner's report for more information.
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