Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Indiana Teen Sisters Die Days Apart

Saturday, September 08, 2007



CENTERVILLE, Ind.  —  The deaths of two sisters inside their family home just days apart has investigators working to determine whether they were linked.

Police officers found the body of 18-year-old Kelly Stanley on Friday morning after being called to the home of her parents[/color], state police Sgt. Noel Houze Jr. said. Whether the death of Stanley, who had been healthy, involved foul play was not immediately determined and an autopsy was planned for Saturday, he said.

Her 19-year-old sister, Erin Stanley, died Sept. 1. The Wayne County coroner's office ruled that death a homicide on Friday. No other details were released. Erin Stanley was mother of a young girl.

"We don't know what this is going to turn out to be, but it is kind of strange circumstances that you have two deaths in the same home within just a few days of each other," Houze said.

Centerville, Wayne County and state police investigators spent much of Friday at the ranch-style home in the town of some 2,500 people about 60 miles east of Indianapolis. Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman met with officers at the scene. But he declined to answer questions, saying he had not been given any reports by detectives.

Word of the deaths left residents uneasy, with neighbor Wendy Davis calling her husband home from work to be with her and her two children.

"We have no idea what happened," she said. "It's just frightening."

Ken Bailey, a longtime friend of the sisters' father, Dale, huddled with a group of neighbors.

"Both of his daughters were really nice girls," he said. "It's a real tragedy."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296171,00.html
Edited this and several other of my posts to change red to navy.  MB

This is very strange.  Here is Kelly's myspace site:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=12042210

http://www.wishtv.com/global/category.asp?c=1506

Autopsy Inconclusive in Death of Centerville Teen
By Phil Sanchez
CENTERVILLE, Ind. - Investigators in Wayne County say an autopsy on an 18-year-old girl, found dead in her Centerville home, is inconclusive. This week, police found her and her sister dead just days apart.

Here is another article dated Sept. 07, 2007 that has a little more information and photos:
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7044469
Sisters' deaths shake Centerville

And another:
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/NEWS01/709080302/1008
Sisters die days apart
First case investigated as homicide; second called suspicious
BY BILL ENGLE
STAFF WRITER

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070910/LOCAL/709100398/1196
    
   
IndyStar.com    Metro & State
8:02 AM September 10, 2007
 
Remains of one sister cremated


   

Damn....this really is a weird one!!
Here is another site w/ comments
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070910/NEWS01/709100302/1008

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14081699/detail.html

 
Prosecutor Pleads Patience In Sisters' Death Investigation
'Meticulous' Investigation Under Way After Sisters' Deaths

POSTED: 10:54 am EDT September 10, 2007
UPDATED: 11:01 am EDT September 10, 2007


CENTERVILLE, Ind. -- Wayne County prosecutor Mike Shipman on Monday pleaded for patience as his office investigates the deaths of two sisters found within a week of each other in their home.

Little information has been released since Kelly Stanley, 18, was found dead on Friday, less than a week after her sister, Erin Stanley, 19, was found dead.

Police said they think Erin Stanley was slain but did not release any details. Autopsy results on Kelly Stanley were inconclusive, authorities said.

"I have declined to name a suspect for a very good reason -- the investigations have not been completed," read a statement from Shipman. "A suspect will only be named if I have evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that someone committed a crime."

Shipman said his office is staying tight-lipped about their investigation for fear of tipping off anyone involved in the case about evidence they have collected.

Investigators said they are awaiting the results of toxicology tests following Kelly Stanley's death.

Centerville is about 60 miles east of downtown Indianapolis

(http://www.theindychannel.com/2007/0908/14072338.jpg)

CENTERVILLE DEATHS INVESTIGATION UPDATE: Records indicate sisters died in the same manner
BY BILL ENGLE
STAFF WRITER
Originally published September 14, 2007
Records released today by Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman reveal Centerville sisters Erin and Kelly Stanley died in the same fashion.
(snipped)
------------------------------
Newspaper seeks records involving deaths of teenaged sisters

Sep 13, 2007 04:55 PM
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7070262&nav=9Tai
Richmond - Authorities in Wayne County are denying a newspaper's request to obtain records involving two teenaged sisters who were found dead just days apart in their family's home
in Centerville.
(snipped)
-------------------------------
Press attorney: Withholding records in sisters' deaths violates law
Originally published September 12, 2007
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070912/UPDATES/70912023
The attorney for the Hoosier State Press Association said local officials are violating Indiana law by not releasing the 911 emergency call and some other public records in the death of Erin Stanley of Centerville on Sept. 1.

“We think the law is pretty clear on this. By definition an investigative record is a record created in the course of the investigation,” he said. “Our opinion is that the investigation doesn’t begin until the officer gets on the scene.”

   
Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman has called the tape of the 911 call to Wayne County dispatch and the Centerville police log of calls part of the investigation into the death of Erin Stanley on Sept. 1 and Kelly Stanley on Sept. 7.

For that reason he has refused to release them to the public.
But Key said both should be open for public perusal.

Well they ruled the first sister a homicide, so the 2nd one is too?  Who would want to kill them?

Records show sister aided police investigation
'Similar action on the part of another party' cited as cause of Stanley sisters' deaths
BY BILL ENGLE
STAFF WRITER
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070915/NEWS01/709150301
Records released Friday by the Wayne County prosecutor reveal that Kelly Stanley died while trying to assist Centerville police with the investigation into the death days earlier of her sister, Erin Stanley.

An affidavit for a search warrant for the home of Dale and Lonny Stanley at 704 Elm Drive in Centerville, issued Sept. 7 and released Friday, indicated that Kelly Stanley, 18, had helped police with several aspects of the investigation, including gaining access "to various computer sites."
(snipped)

Update: Stanley Sisters Investigation
Thursday, 13 September 2007
http://930whon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1285&Itemid=
(snipped)
Shipman also wrote that the person who placed the original 911 call has not been interviewed.  19-year-old Erin Stanley was found dead in her Centerville home on September 1.  That death was ruled a homicide.  Her sister, 18-year-old Kelly Stanley, was found dead in the same home six days later.  Since then, law enforcement officers have refused to communicate even the most basic information to the public.
 ------------------------------

Deaths of Erin and Kelly Stanley Mystify Residents of Centerville, Indiana

By David Lohr

September 11, 2007
http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0907/1101_stanley_sisters6.html

I'm not going to snip any parts out of this story.  You just need to read the whole thing.  Very suspicious things about these sisters deaths and the way the investigation is being handled, and the discrepancies even in the obituary.  Smells like some kind of cover up, imo.

MuffyBee -- Thank you!

I look forward to any updates you find on this. It is one strange story  :shock:

It sure is strange.  both girls dying in the same manner just days apart? 

911 Call: Boyfriend Found 1 of the Sisters Who Died

Sep 17, 2007 06:43 PM
By Jay Hermacinski
News 8 @ 6:00
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7086963&nav=menu35_3
CENTERVILLE, Ind. - New information was released Monday surrounding the deaths of two Centerville sisters. Both teenagers died in their home one week apart.

Police have now released a 911 call that was made from the home.

September 1st at 5:15AM a boyfriend finds the body of 19-year old Erin Stanley in her bed. She is barely breathing. Stanley's mom calls 911.

"My daughter she's unresponsive, her eyes are halfway open, she's blue," Mrs. Stanely said to the 911 operator.

"Is she breathing," the operator asked.

"I don't know. Is she breathing dad? She's trying," Mrs. Stanley said.

"Okay, stay on the phone with me we have people on the way okay," the operator said.

Police, paramedics and the fire department responded to the emergency. Efforts to resuscitate the 19-year old failed.

Police later said she had been strangled.

Six days later Stanley's 18-year old sister Kelly was found dead inside the same house. That 911 call has not been released.

Neighbors say since the deaths, things have been quiet at the home.

"Really nothing, no activity. A lot of passerbys going up and down the street but other than that no," neighbor Kelly Gregory said.

The 911 tape has people talking but they have more questions than answers. Folks in Centerville are anxious to learn the details surrounding the deaths of both sisters.

As far as the investigation, nothing is being said. Monday the Centerville Police Chief had the day off and the Wayne County Prosecutor offered no new details.

 :shock:

Something is really, really strange about this case... :smt009

Scared Monkeys gets referenced in news article regarding sisters.

http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS01/70921001

Deaths heat up Web sites
On 1 site, sisters draw more traffic than O.J. Simpson
BY RYAN S. CLARK
STAFF WRITER


Interest in the deaths of Centerville sisters Erin and Kelly Stanley is not confined to their community or Wayne County, as Web sites with a predominantly national audience are demonstrating.

 
Because of millions of sites that have the words, “Kelly, Erin or Stanley” on them, other search engines such as Yahoo had provided other search terms to gather more accurate Web pages.

Some of those search terms include“Erin Kelly Stanley Centerville” and “Erin Kelly Stanley Deaths.”

Other Web pages on which the case is being discussed include http://scaredmonkeys.net. It has posted several articles about the case and has allowed forum users to react to them.

They should draw more attention than OJ!  They are deceased and he just robbed somebody.  Allegedly.  Like the murders.

Still little information released on deaths of sisters

Still little information released on deaths of sisters

Sep 21, 2007 05:30 AM
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7108552
Centerville - There is new information in the case of two Centerville sisters who died less than a week apart in their parents' home.

Newly released toxicology reports show there were no drugs or alcohol that would have caused the younger sister's death.

The mystery began September 1 when 19-year-old Erin Stanley was found in the family's home. Authorities have ruled her death a homicide, but have not disclosed how she was killed.

Six days later, her 18-year-old sister Kelly was found dead in the home.

The prosecutor says releasing too much information could undermine the investigation
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Why the ongoing secrecy in sisters' deaths?
Public has right, need to know; investigators are obligated to a timely release of public records
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/NEWS0301/709190326

I'm still waiting to hear the story about how the 'boyfriend' found the first sister strangled in her bed at 5:15 in the morning.

This already has a very bad ending -- is it going to get worse. Are more young women going to turn up dead -- or will it be confined to the specific house with the specific occupants?

I'm sure the neighbors are nervous as heck.

Rumors swirling as town copes with sisters' deaths
By RICK CALLAHAN
Associated Press
Published: September 21, 2007 6:00 a.m
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS07/709210331
(snipped)
“I have declined to name a suspect for a very good reason – the investigations have not been completed,” Shipman said in a Sept. 10 statement.

The mystery began Sept. 1 when Erin was found unresponsive and struggling to breathe in the home where she was living with her 4-month-old daughter, Alexis.

Attempts to revive her failed. Authorities have ruled her death a homicide but have not disclosed why.
(snipped)
The same day, police filed an affidavit seeking a search warrant for the home. The document says Kelly had been aiding investigators with their probe into her sister’s death and helped them gain access “to various computer sites.”

The document, released Sept. 14, adds vaguely that the sisters appear to have died “by similar action on the part of another party.”

It uses the word “homicide” in referring to each death. In e-mails sent Thursday, however, Shipman cautioned against calling the sisters’ deaths homicides, noting that an autopsy on Kelly Stanley is inconclusive.

“The pathologist’s observations during Kelly Stanley’s autopsy did not confirm the initial beliefs of the officers,” Shipman said in his e-mail, noting that police had noted the similar location and times – both in the morning – of the teens’ deaths.

Shipman said he received a toxicology report Thursday on Kelly Stanley that showed there were “no drugs, alcohol or other substances in her system which would have caused her death.” He said a pathologist will review the report and make a ruling on how she died.

Officials have declined to say how Erin Stanley died. But state police Sgt. Noel Houze, who was at the teens’ home the day the younger sister was found, said he was told by a coroner’s official that Erin may have been strangled.

911 call reveals details of Centerville sisters’ deaths

BY RYAN S. CLARK
Richmond Palladium-Item
  PUBLISHED: 09-18-07 8:20 AM EST
(snipped)
The 911 call for Kelly Stanley was not recorded because of an equipment failure at the 911 dispatch center.
(snipped)

I am trying to go through articles to see if the boyfriend was spending the night...
September 18, 2007
 
911 call: Girl was struggling to breathe
First of 2 sisters who died was blue and unresponsive, tape indicates
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/LOCAL/709180367/1196
(snipped)
Asked whether she woke up to find her daughter ill, Lonny Stanley responded, "Her boyfriend did."
(snipped)
------------------------------------------------
Mystery Plagues Indiana Town
Posted by Eyes for Lies on Sep 20 2007 | developing story, homicide, Unsolved,
http://crimeblog.us/?p=555
Chatter soon started on the internet and speculation began that Erin was, in fact, murdered. Police have since confirmed that Erin’s death was a homicide, with unconfirmed reports she died by strangulation…

Erin was a mother and her daughter, Alexis MacFarland, was approximately four-months -old.

But that is only half the story. Less than six days later, Centerville police get call from Erin’s mom, Lonny Stanley. Lonny reports that her 18-year-old daughter, Kelly, is unresponsive. Yet when police arrived, it was clear Kelly was deceased. Kelly’s cause of death has yet to be determined and police are awaiting toxicology reports.

Police have little to say about the case:

    “I have declined to name a suspect for a very good reason — the investigations have not been completed,” read a statement from Shipman (a Wayne County Prosecutor). “A suspect will only be named if I have evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that someone committed a crime.

    Shipman said his office is staying tight-lipped about their investigation for fear of tipping off anyone involved in the case about evidence they have collected.” (1)

One commenter, Pacesetter, wrote the following on the Palladium-Item forum:

    My children knew both girls and through the myspace [sic] grapevine [sic] they knew of the strangulation of the older sister and that they thought it was the boyfriend who was the suspect who did it. They also heard he left town and could not be found. It is so sad for the family who has to endure two tragedies. I heard the second death on the police scanner this morning and could hardly believe it. No one is sure yet whether this death was a suicide or murder. My prayers go out to the family. Why the first death was not put in the paper a long time ago [sic] who knows!?!?

Like me, you may be wondering — who was the father of Alexis? Where is he? Is Pacesetter accurate when she says the boyfriend skipped town and cannot be found?

Was Kelly depressed over her sister’s death and capable of suicide?

Another poster at the Palladium-Item, dqqueen83, wrote the following:

    ok [sic] i [sic] knew both girls personally and NO it was no suicide [sic] this “botfriend” [sic] knew what he was doing both times. He needs to go to hell for this!! Please pray for this family.
(snipped)
 Erin’s MySpace Pages:

    * http://www.myspace.com/15077183
    * http://www.myspace.com/12143375

Kelly’s MySpace page:

    http://www.myspace.com/12042210
(snipped)

September 22, 2007
 
Memorial today remembers Centerville sisters
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/LOCAL/70922004
CENTERVILLE, Ind. — Sisters who died less than a week apart earlier this month will be remembered this afternoon.

Sisters Erin Stanley, 19, and Kelly Stanley, 18, died six days apart in their home at 704 Elm Dr. in Centerville. Erin died Saturday, September 1, and her younger sister, Kelly, 18, on Friday, September 7. The Stanley home at the corner of Elm Drive and Mulberry Street, where the sisters lived with their parents, Dale and Lonny Stanley, is shown on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. - Charlie Nye / The Star
   
A memorial visitation for Kelly and Erin Stanley is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. today at Mills Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St. in Centerville.
Kelly Stanley, 18, died Sept. 7 at her residence. The cause of her death is still undetermined, according to Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman.

Her sister Erin, 19, died Sept. 1 after being found struggling to breathe at the 704 Elm Drive home of her parents, Dale and Lonny Stanley.

Her death has been ruled a homicide.

Investigators have released little information surrounding the two deaths.

Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Centerville mystified by deaths of 2 sisters
Town has learned little about how siblings died in their home 6 days apart
September 24, 2007
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/LOCAL/709240377/-1/LOCAL17
(snipped)
A pathologist ruled Erin's death a homicide, but hasn't said why publicly. Local reporters have quoted one trooper who responded to Kelly's death as suggesting that Erin was strangled.
Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman said Friday the trooper's statement "is accurate" but did not elaborate.
(snipped)
On Sept. 7, the day Kelly died, the Centerville police filed an affidavit for a search warrant in Wayne Superior Court. The police sought evidence "related to the homicide of 18-year-old Kelly Stanley," which they believed was "concealed" inside the Stanleys' home and a four-door 1992 grey Lumina at the home.
(snipped)
According to the affidavit, Kelly had been assisting police in the investigation of her sister's death, "which included access to various computer sites."
Police were interested in searching for bedding, clothes, stuffed animals and other items that were close to Kelly's body and could "contain DNA and other trace evidence," the document said.
The affidavit also mentions that police were interested in a computer used by the sisters and other "memory devices." It mentions a cell phone belonging to Kelly that was found ringing near her hand in the bedroom.
Kelly returned home from work in the Lumina the night before she died, and police suspect there may be evidence in the car relating to the identity of whoever committed the crime.
For the past year, Kelly had worked at the Dairy Queen on Richmond's west side. "It was her first job, and she was nervous," said Katie Tompkins, one of the restaurant's managers.
Kelly worked nights, and the two became good friends. "We'd be singing, dancing, laughing and giggling," said Tompkins. "I mean it was a great time with her."
Kelly was looking forward to taking college courses this fall and was a big fan of country singer Brad Paisley. "She loved him," Tompkins said. The two had bought tickets to see him in concert in October.
Kelly had spent the night her sister died at a friend's home and was called home by her parents, Tompkins said.
Kelly was upset and wanted to find out what happened but didn't act like she was afraid for her safety, Tompkins said.

I'd like to hear that story too sharon.  :shock: And where were the parents in all of this? Is the boyfriend a person of interest?

This is a very strange case, to say the least.

It is a strange one pdh3.

And I'm so grateful to MuffyBee for finding and posting updates. :smt052

This latest one -- really has me thinking -- the younger sister did not sleep at home the night that the first sister died.

I wonder if she had slept at home -- if BOTH of them would have died that night/morning  :shock:

The bf found the first sister because he had spent the night :shock: Surely he would have heard/seen something. Couldn't be CO2 -- or he would be gone, too.

I hope they don't give up until they figure this out. Without knowing the facts -- it's hard to think of a way that the bf and the parents are NOT involved.

Good Lord!  I wonder about the parents too. Not that I think they are guilty of anything but it's their home and how the heck do you not hear something?  Also, the boyfriend.  Where is he?  Do we know if he really skipped town?  This one really is a mystery until we get more info, which I fear won't be as quick as we would like.  It is very hard to come up with any ideas without more info. :smt120

Case discussed on national TV
Fox News' Greta Van Susteren interviews pathologist, reporter about Centerville sisters' deaths
PALLADIUM-ITEM
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/NEWS01/709250302/1008
(snipped)
Dr. Michael Baden, a New York forensic pathologist who appeared on the show as an expert, gave insight into the police investigation. He even offered a guess as to who could have killed the sisters and how they might have died. The Palladium-Item doesn't report the names of people who have not yet been named by authorities as suspects in the investigation.

The segment opened with the 911 call made by Lonny Stanley, the sisters' mother, after Erin Stanley was found barely breathing.

"Centerville, Indiana, is in shock tonight," Van Susteren said before the recording started to play.

Phillips told Van Susteren the media and the community weren't notified of Erin Stanley's death until Kelly Stanley died.

"Nobody knew about it," Phillips said.

Phillips went on to say in the program that Erin Stanley's body was cremated shortly after Kelly Stanley's death. In addition, he said, a 911 call was made after Kelly Stanley's death, but it didn't record properly.

"Ugh," Van Susteren said in frustration at the segment's close.

With todays technology, I am so sad to hear that the 911 call was not recorded properly.  I cannot understand how things like that happen.  Yes, i understand things malfunction but when a system has a failure, the system should alert the dispatchers that something is wrong with whatever device is not working properly and a tech should fix it asap.  Wow, what a shame.  The call could have contained important information.

Cell Phone Records, Computer Probed In Sisters' Deaths
Prosecutors Dive Into Data In Mysterious Deaths

POSTED: 1:50 pm EDT September 28, 2007
UPDATED: 1:57 pm EDT September 28, 2007
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/14228599/detail.html
CENTERVILLE, Ind. -- Prosecutors are ready to review cell phone records and data retrieved from a computer as part of their investigation of the mysterious deaths of two sisters.

Erin Stanley, 19, and her sister, Kelly, were found dead less than a week apart in the home they shared with their parents.

Erin's death was ruled a homicide, and a search warrant affidavit suggests that police suspect Kelly might also have been killed.
Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman said he is waiting to review cell phone records from the Stanley family, analyses of the Stanleys' personal computer and of DNA found at the scene.

Erin was found dead inside the family's home Sept. 1. Kelly's body was found on Sept. 7 in the same home.

Officials have not released information about the nature of Kelly Stanley's death, but a toxicology report released last week showed that she had no drugs, alcohol or other substances in her body at the time of her death.

Thanks MuffyBee!

I wonder why they waited to review the cell phone records??

I think perhaps it's because they had to wait on subpoenas for the cell records.  When the article said they are ready to review them, my first thought was "Gee, do ya' think??!!"  I noticed that it has taken a long time in the case of the missing young man Christopher Robin Coan to get records.  In that case, the records had to be subpoenaed also, and it seems like it has taken a long time.  Maybe we've been watching too much CSI and have come to expect things a lot faster then can happen in real time. Still, seems like getting the cell phone records has been slow going... :roll:

Phone and computer data probed in sisters' deaths
September 28, 2007
By Bill Engle
Richmond Palladium-Item
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/LOCAL/709280707/1196/LOCAL
(snipped)
Centerville police, Indiana State Police and others are investigating the deaths of Erin Stanley on Sept. 1 and Kelly Stanley on Sept. 7. Both were found in their home at 704 Elm Drive. Erin was struggling to breathe when she was found.
Erin's death is being investigated as a homicide; Kelly's death is termed suspicious.
Centerville police and State Police officials declined to comment on the case Thursday, as did Wayne County Coroner Kevin Fouche.
Shipman said officials from the State Police lab told him this week they would make examining DNA evidence in the Kelly Stanley case a priority.
"That's good news," Shipman said.
Shipman also has been besieged by requests to appear on national news programs such as "Good Morning America," "20/20," "Dateline" and "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren."
"But, right now, no, I don't think I'll be doing any of those," he said.


Shipman declined to say whether there was a suspect in the case.
Once I'm convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that someone was responsible for one or both deaths, then I will name a suspect at that time," he said.

Boyfriend Held on Murder Charges After Indiana Teen Sisters Die Days Apart
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,300620,00.html
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
CENTERVILLE, Ind. —  The boyfriend of a 19-year-old woman who was found dead six days before the death of her younger sister was arrested Tuesday on a preliminary charge of murder.

James McFarland Jr., 23, was being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail in Richmond on one count of murder.

McFarland was the boyfriend of Erin Stanley, 19, who died Sept. 1 at her parents' home in Centerville, just west of Richmond in east-central Indiana. Her sister, Kelly Stanley, 18, was found dead in the home on Sept. 7.

A Centerville police dispatcher said McFarland was charged in Erin Stanley's death.

McFarland was the father of Erin's infant daughter and lived with the Stanleys in Centerville. He was arrested about 4 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in nearby Cambridge City, police said.

McFarland denied any involvement in either woman's death in an interview last week with the Palladium-Item of Richmond. He said he planned to marry Erin Stanley and was devastated by her death.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,300620,00.html

Boyfriend Held on Murder Charges After Indiana Teen Sisters Die Days Apart

Tuesday , October 09, 2007

CENTERVILLE, Ind. —

The boyfriend of a 19-year-old woman who was found dead six days before the death of her younger sister was arrested Tuesday on a preliminary charge of murder.

James McFarland Jr., 23, was being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail in Richmond on one count of murder.

McFarland was the boyfriend of Erin Stanley, 19, who died Sept. 1 at her parents' home in Centerville, just west of Richmond in east-central Indiana. Her sister, Kelly Stanley, 18, was found dead in the home on Sept. 7.

A Centerville police dispatcher said McFarland was charged in Erin Stanley's death.

McFarland was the father of Erin's infant daughter and lived with the Stanleys in Centerville. He was arrested about 4 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in nearby Cambridge City, police said.

McFarland denied any involvement in either woman's death in an interview last week with the Palladium-Item of Richmond. He said he planned to marry Erin Stanley and was devastated by her death.

Is there a known cause of death?  I believe Dr Baden mentioned suffocation (as opposed to strangulation) as with a pillow could be a possibility?

Also the BF says he planned to marry Erin Stanley yet they already had a child and he had not yet done so.  I wonder why not.

This is very strange and one has to wonder if the life of the second sister could have been spared with a faster investigation.  But who knowns, maybe all was done that could be done at the time.

So sad, a child loses a mother and the parents both their daughters in such strange circumstances. 

Boyfriend pleads not guilty
 http://www.newslinkindiana.com/index.php?src=news&refno=1085&category=Headlines
Published Thursday, October 11, 2007
by Nikki Stroud

CENTERVILLE-23 year old James McFarland of Centerville has entered a "not guilty" plea for being charged with the murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend,  Erin Stanley. Just six days after the death of Erin Stanley, her sister Kelly was found dead in the same house.

McFarland told Newslink Indiana last week that he had no involvement in either of the sisters' cases. A pretrial hearing for McFarland is set for December 10th.

Ind. Man Charged in Death of Girlfriend
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hecHuHdBTWA2VsvID_QeEkKlwNdgD8S6QF780
1 day ago
RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — A man who said he discovered his girlfriend unresponsive was charged Wednesday with killing her, while authorities investigate why her sister died mysteriously six days later.

James McFarland Jr., 23, who has denied any involvement in the sisters' deaths, was being held in jail without bail a day after he was arrested at a friend's home.

Police said they have been suspicious of McFarland since his girlfriend's body was found Sept. 1 at her parents' home in Centerville.

McFarland and Erin Stanley, 19, had just moved into her parents' home with their infant daughter, according to a probable cause affidavit. McFarland was in bed with Stanley at the time of her death, the report said.

An autopsy found bruising on the woman's neck "as though someone had used their hands and squeezed on Stanley's throat," the affidavit stated.

"He has been a person of interest from the start," Centerville Police Sgt. Ed Buchholz said.

On Sept. 7, Stanley's 18-year-old sister, Kelly, was found dead. Prosecutor Mike Shipman said he was investigating whether her death was a homicide.

Officials have released little information about the deaths in the town about 60 miles east of Indianapolis.

In an interview last week with the Palladium-Item, McFarland said he had planned to marry Erin and was devastated by her death.

He told investigators that he woke up when the baby was crying and noticed that Stanley was unresponsive, the court document said.

"I've got nothing to hide," he told the newspaper. "I didn't have anything to do with either death."

Circuit Judge David Kolger entered a not guilty plea on McFarland's behalf during an initial court hearing, a court employee said. Kolger set a pretrial hearing for Dec. 10.

McFarland was not represented by an attorney at the hearing and the judge did not appoint a public defender for him on Wednesday. Shipman said he did not know whether McFarland had a defense attorney.
------------------------------------------------------
I hope something gets worked out for McFarland as far as a defense attorney is concerned.  No need for the courts to be careless.  Whether he is guilty or not, he should have legal representation.  I wouldn't want someone innocent to be wrongfully sentenced.  That said, I want to be SURE if he did murder her, he doesn't get off on a legal technicality.

Edited Erin Stanley 911 call

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OldTimer



Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3109
Location: Richmond, IN
   
PostPosted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:15 am    Post subject: Edited Erin Stanley 911 call    
http://www.pal-item.com/assets/mp3/A085831918.MP3

The P-I version is above. Those of us who watched Greta van Sustern last night heard a different version.

Now that we know to listen for it, you can hear the edit right after "she's blue".

Did the P-I edit out the next part or were you given an edited tape? (Those are the only two possibilities, right?)

Since I suspect you edited (why would Greta have the full recording and you not?) should you have told us it was not complete?
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Jason Truitt
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:41 am    Post subject:    
Yes, OldTimer, we did edit that one line out of the tape. And yes, it would have been best to have a line somewhere saying a couple seconds of the tape had been removed.

We thought we were doing the decent thing to take out that one line. For those who don't agree, I understand your perspective.
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This from the Palladium-Item
http://tinyurl.com/2x3wvd

October 11, 2007
 
Boyfriend is charged with murder
Court papers: 1st of 2 sisters to die likely was strangled in her sleep
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071011/LOCAL/710110470/-1/LOCAL17
CENTERVILLE, Ind. -- A 19-year-old Centerville woman likely was strangled by hand as she slept in a bedroom with her boyfriend and infant daughter, court documents revealed Wednesday.
(snipped)
An autopsy revealed a large amount of bleeding in the throat and larynx, the affidavit stated. Signs of bruising in the neck area were further indications she had been strangled.
"The location of the bruising appeared as though someone had used their hands and squeezed on Stanley's throat," the affidavit noted.
"At the time of Erin Stanley's death, the only persons in the residence other than James McFarland, who by his own admission was in bed with her at the time of her death, were her parents and the couple's infant daughter," the affidavit states.
(snipped)

Coroner: Seizure killed 2nd Centerville sister
By Ryan S. Clark
The (Richmond) Palladium-Item
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/LOCAL/710230447/-1/LOCAL17
Richmond, Ind. -- Kelly Stanley, the second of two teenaged sisters to be found dead in their parents' Centerville home last month, died of natural causes, the Wayne County Coroner's office said today.
]Kelly Stanley, 18, died of a seizure, Coroner Kevin Fouche said. In a written release, he added that "psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures may be stress induced," without specifically saying that's what Kelly suffered.
Six days before she was found dead, Kelly's 19-year-old sister Erin was found unconscious in the home and died before emergency medical responders could help. Her death has been ruled a homicide by strangulation and her boyfriend has been charged in her death.
Because neither sister had been known to have health problems and because investigators initially suggested the deaths were similar in nature, many had expected Kelly's death to be ruled as a homicide.
However, initial tests were inconclusive on Kelly and more detailed tests showed no suspicious cause of death. Toxicology tests were negative, according to the coroner's office.
The findings were released late this afternoon. But some mystery still surrounds Kelly's death, at least for the public.
"We investigated her (medical) history," Fouche said. "But I cannot release what we found."
Erin Stanley's boyfriend, James H. McFarland, 23, was arrested Oct. 10 in connection with her death.
Because Kelly Stanley died of a seizure, there is no indication a homicide has been committed, Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman said tonight.
"The criminal investigation has been concluded," he said. "If no homicide has been committed, we cannot prosecute a crime."
Shipman said he had not been in contact with Stanley's parents, Dale and Lonny Stanley, regarding the findings.
------------------------------------------------------------
 :shock: :shock: :shock:  I thought earlier articles stated the sisters did NOT have a history of health problems?!

Muffy
 TY for posting here.  It dont seem right?  A seizure...? 
 I don't buy that. IMO.
 From my experiebce at 911. Thats just me.. :( 

Angie, something doesn't seem right about this whole thing from the start.  I really wonder about this myself.  Did you know the call to 911 recording was useless when it was called it for her?!  When her mother called 911 in her sisters case, the recording is available.  In this case, it's said it was a malfunction.  Stranger and stranger.

On the Record on Friday, Dr Baden says NO Way is this a seizure. He was adament about this. He said that asphyxiation and seizure would appear the same in an autopsy. Said a second autopsy should be done and more testing. I have been unable to find a transcript of Dr Baden's interview.

Something is not right here IMO!

I agree with you Mum.  Something isn't right with this investigation.

From: Dr. Baden

To: Van Susteren, Greta
Sent: Sun Nov 04 14:49:28 2007
Subject: re: coroners

Greta, You raised a very basic question Friday—how could the Coroner make such an obvious mistake in ruling that the death of Drew Peterson ’s Wife #3 was Accidental Drowning rather than Homicide given the history of spousal abuse, the order of protection, the autopsy evidence of a bloody beating before drowning, and the fact that healthy sober adults don’t drown accidentally in bathtubs. The death should have been classified as a Homicide which would have triggered a full police investigation. The Accidental classification required no further investigation. Similarly, the Coroner’s classification that the second Stanley sister died of Psychogenic Epilepsy—a here-to-fore unknown cause of death—has also raised concerns about the accuracy of death certifications.
Greta, the medical investigation of murder in this country is a national disgrace. One half of all U.S.counties have elected coroners rather than medical examiners who are physicians appointed on the basis of merit. Most coroners have little or no medical or scientific background (usually required only to be a U.S. citizen of voting age) and they have the legal responsibility of determining cause and manner of unnatural deaths. About ten states do not have a single forensic pathologist in the entire state. There are 60 murders every day in the U.S.; in more than half the perpetrator will not be convicted (so much for the perfect murder–most are!!) –and in some murders innocent people may be convicted. The medical/forensic investigation of murder is very uneven in this country and is conducted according to local county or state laws.(Almost all murder is local!) Perhaps we should consider establishing a federal Forensic Sciences General position to create a bully pulpit to improve unnatural death investigation in the entire country as the Surgeon General position has been able to improve public interest and research into natural diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease and breast cancer. michael baden

 
 
 
 
 

Father of Stanley sisters dies after illness

April 5, 2009

CENTERVILLE, Ind. - Dale A. Stanley, 52, of Centerville, whose daughters' mysterious deaths just days apart in September 2007 drew national media attention, died early Saturday at his home in Centerville after an illness, according to funeral home officials.
Erin Stanley, then 19, died at the Centerville home of her parents, Dale and Lonny Stanley. Erin's boyfriend, James McFarland, had been charged with what was believed to be a strangulation death. Those charges were recently dismissed.

Erin's younger sister, Kelly, 18, died six days later. A pathologist ruled Kelly Stanley died of a seizure.

The Stanley parents had not spoken publicly about the case except when testifying a year ago at a McFarland bond hearing.
http://www.pal-item.com/article/20090405/NEWS01/904050306