Flora father and son face charges of failure to report woman’s death

Wendy Taylor Photo provided

A father and son are facing charges of failure to report human remains after the July death of a Kokomo woman.

The men reportedly waited at least six hours before calling authorities after they realized Wendy Taylor, 64, had passed away in their rural Flora living room, according to a probable cause affidavit from Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office.

An autopsy would later determine Taylor died from an accidental overdose, according to Kristin Enoch, Carroll County coroner.

Dana Faucett, 69, and Andrew Faucett, 41, both of Flora, each face one count of failure to report human remains, a Class A misdemeanor. The charges were filed Oct. 15 in Carroll Superior Court. According to Indiana code, any person who discovers or handles human remains must report the death to a public safety officer, coroner, funeral director, physician or 911 call center within three hours of discovery.

The autopsy determined Taylor died of acute methamphetamine toxicity, Enoch said Monday.

Authorities were initially alerted about the death that allegedly occurred in 7000 block of East County Road 150 South at approximately 11:25 p.m. July 25 when Dana called the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) with the report.

According to the probable cause, filed by Mike Hobbs, CCSO detective, Officer Steve Catron of Flora Police Department arrived to find Taylor in an “advanced stage of rigor and livor mortis, with an odor of decomposition.”

Taylor had reportedly been at the residence since July 24 after arriving with a friend.

Dana told investigators the group spent the evening around a fire before going inside, where Taylor complained of breathing problems. Dana reported he lent her his emergency inhaler before going to bed.

The next day, Dana and Andrew told investigators they discovered Taylor unresponsive on the couch at approximately 5 p.m.

Instead of calling 911, Dana contacted a friend for advice and later called the sheriff’s office that night, saying he “did not want all the commotion” at his house, according to the affidavit. “Dana stated when he finally decided to call, he first tried the Burlington Town Hall but got no answer. Dana stated he then searched Google for the sheriff’s office number and then called.”

Failure to report human remains carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

The cases are pending in Carroll Superior Court under State of Indiana v. Andrew J. Faucett and a related filing for Dana Faucett.