The Linton Police Department has been investigating a murder since at least mid-day Wednesday, March 18, and released limited information yesterday. Today, March 20, the LPD confirmed the name of the victim.

The LPD received a report on Wednesday, March 18, about a man at an abandoned house in southeast Linton. Officers responded and found the man was deceased and surrounded by suspicious circumstances.

“Linton Police officers began an investigation after the body of an adult male was discovered on the porch of a vacant residence in Linton. The circumstances at the scene were notably suspicious. The deceased was identified as John P. Chapman, 46, of Linton. With the assistance of the Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators and the Greene County Coroner’s Office, substantial physical evidence was documented and recovered,” said LPD Chief Paul Clark on Friday.

An autopsy was performed yesterday, March 19, and the manner of death was confirmed to be a homicide.

“The Linton Police Department is aggressively investigating this crime and will continue to do so. The LPD has been assisted by the Indiana State Police, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office and the Jasonville Police Department,” according to Chief Clark.

Homicide victim John Paul Chapman, mug shot from late February 2020

Court records and records from the files of GreeneStreets indicate Chapman had a court case pending against him for driving while suspended and had been arrested recently for failure to appear in court for a hearing. Otherwise, no significant criminal history was found in an initial check by GreeneStreets.

As the investigation is continuing, the LPD says additional details are being withheld at this time for investigative purposes.

LPD is requesting anyone with information related to this murder to contact the Linton Police Department at 812-847-4411 or report anonymous tips to Greene County Crime Stoppers at 812-847-5463 or 812-TIP-LINE.