Published: April 01, 2008 03:55 pm            

Letter proves to be hoax; police say Hensley drowned

PLAINFIELD — Police here say the mysterious letter they received last week from an anonymous source was merely a hoax.

Plainfield Police Capt. Darel Krieger said police received an unsigned letter on March 25 claiming that Harold “Brad” Hensley’s death was not an accident.

About a week earlier, Hensley’s body had been found in a retention pond in the Glen Haven subdivision more than two years after he was reported missing. Authorities were awaiting toxicology results, but Hendricks County Coroner Jason Matthews said Hensley had probably drowned. There were no signs of trauma, Matthews said.

After releasing information about the anonymous letter to media outlets and asking for the letter writer to come forward, Krieger said they received a second letter. This one, he said, was signed by an 88-year-old woman who lived in the Mars Hill neighborhood of Indianapolis.

Krieger said police went to the woman’s home to speak with her and found her to be suffering from some type of mental disorder.

“She felt like Hensley may have been after her,” he added.

Krieger said it was determined that the woman had made up the information in the letter. He said police often hear stories of prowlers from elderly people who are merely lonely and seeking attention.

“Attention from the police on a prowler call is better than no attention at all,” Krieger said.

Krieger said no charges will be filed against the woman because authorities do not believe she understood what she was doing.

Krieger said police are still awaiting toxicology reports on Hensley, but unless new information comes up, the case is considered closed.

“Hensley just got confused that morning and drove into the pond and drowned,” he said.

amanda.roach@flyergroup.com

        

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