Odon community trying to make sense of Tuesday night homicide

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Woodruff crime scene in Odon, Ind. (Photo by Kelly Overton for the Washington Times Herald)

ODON - The small community of Odon is wondering exactly what happened on Edwards Lane where the body of an apparent homicide victim was found in snow outside of his home Tuesday evening. Daviess County authorities report Travis Woodruff, 33, Odon, was found outside of his home at 106 Edwards Lane around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday.

A short time after the original call came in, authorities called for the coroner and a homicide investigation began. The original 911 call indicated Woodruff had been the victim of a shooting, but authorities have not released an exact cause of death.

"We have not received an exact cause of death," said Daviess County Sheriff Jerry Harbstreit. "There will be an autopsy on Thursday morning and we should get a cause then."

The death has set off a homicide investigation that is involving virtually the entire sheriff's department. "We had just wrapped up a training exercise when the call came in," said Harbstreit. "We rolled virtually the entire department to Odon to begin working on this. Our officers have been up all night looking for answers, talking to neighbors. My guys are working hard on this."

Authorities and friends are trying to sort out just why Woodruff would be the victim of a violent crime. "I know him, his brother, his mom and dad very well," said Harbstreit. "They are all awesome folks. He had no history of issues."

"Travis and his family have been our neighbors and friends our entire lives," said Kim Burkhart. "He was a quiet, polite and respectable young man. He would do whatever he could to help you if you needed anything. He comes from a great Christian family who are a positive influence in our community. Travis was a great guy who will be missed tremendously by everyone who knew him. Our family and the entire community are in shock and disbelief. This tragedy proves once again that life can change in an instant. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Odon is not known as a dangerous place. Local officials say they can't recall the last homicide in the community. Woodruff's death left a pall over the town. "Odon is such a small place," said Clerk-Treasurer Beth Haseman wiping a tear from her eyes. "I did not know him, but I know one of our city employees was a neighbor and was very close to him. You see how much he (the city employee) is hurting and his family is hurting and it just makes you sad. It is my understanding that he was really well liked around town. Since everyone seems to at least know someone who knew him there is just a lot of sadness in the community."

Not only is there sadness but also a sense of shock that the quiet neighborhood just north of SR 58 would be the location of a violent death. "That is a really quiet neighborhood, and our town is just so small and quiet," said Haseman. "You just don't expect that to happen here."

Authorities are not releasing many details but are busy working the case. "I don't know of any suspects at this time," said Harbstreit. "Because the victim apparently had not had many problems with other people or been involved in anything suspicious, that makes the investigation a little more difficult. We're still early in the investigation. Our guys are working hard but they still have a lot more to do."

Even without an arrest, officials do not believe the community at large is in danger. "If I thought they were in danger I would be running around with a megaphone announcing it," said Harbstreit. "From what little we know, we feel this was an isolated event specifically directed at Woodruff. The folks in Odon should lock their doors as a normal precaution, but I believe they are safe."

While the Daviess County Sheriff's Department is heading up the investigation, they are being assisted by Indiana State Police and sheriff's officers in Greene, Knox, Warrick and Sullivan Counties along with the Odon Town Marshal's Office. Authorities are looking for additional information and are requesting the public's help. If anyone has any information that might be helpful they are being asked to contact the Sheriff's Department at 812-254-1060.

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  • The last homicide in the community was the Byers man at Elnora w/I the last 6 months, have you forgotten?!

    -- Posted by bloomfieldfan on Wed, Feb 18, 2015, at 9:22 PM
  • This was in Odon not Elnora

    -- Posted by Miner momma 1 on Thu, Feb 19, 2015, at 7:57 AM
  • Let me rephrase that I think they are referring to Odon specifically.

    -- Posted by Miner momma 1 on Thu, Feb 19, 2015, at 7:59 AM
  • I seem to remember a someone finding a deceased person behind a beauty shop in Odon.

    -- Posted by peace on earth on Thu, Feb 19, 2015, at 12:29 PM
  • That was not a homicide

    -- Posted by Miner momma 1 on Thu, Feb 19, 2015, at 2:35 PM
  • Either way,people have died.Makes no difference where.

    This situation is heartbreaking for all concerned.

    Prayers for the families.

    -- Posted by graveytrain on Thu, Feb 19, 2015, at 8:31 PM
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