Riley’s Death Similar to Unsolved Slayings, Police Say

by Deborah Pines

Although an autopsy failed to show what killed Michael Andrew Riley, authorities said Monday they were treating the case as a homicide similar to the unsolved deaths of six young Indianapolis males. Riley’s body was found Sunday in a Hancock County drainage ditch about 5 miles southeast of Greenfield. The 22-year-old resident of Indianapolis’ Southside was last seen May 28 at a Broad Ripple nightclub. “There is no evidence he was stabbed or shot,” said Charles R. Glidewell, a Hancock County deputy coroner. “The manner of the cause of death is pending investigation. We’re treating it as a homicide.” Laboratory tests may determine the cause of death, but the results won’t be available for weeks, Glidewell said. Riley had marks around his neck and bruises above his eyes, Glidewell said. Riley’s disappearance immediately raised concerns that it could be connected with the murders or mysterious deaths since 1980 of the other victims, ages 14 to 27. Those victims were involved in male prostitution in Indianapolis police said. Another victim, a Terre Haute man, did not have a connection with prostitution, police said. Three victims were stabbed, one strangled and the cause of death for three was not found. Their bodies were found in Hamilton, Putnam, Hendricks, Vermillion and northern Marion counties. One police expert, who has examined all eight deaths, said Riley fits the pattern because of his age, race and the fact that his body was dumped in a rural area. “There are definite similarities between these cases,” said Lt Jerry L Campbell of the Indianapolis Police Department. “They could very well be connected, but there is nothing definite at this point to tie them together.” Campbell and other city detectives have been investigating suspicious deaths of members of the Indianapolis gay community dating back to 1976. The victim’s mother, Norma C. Riley, agreed there might be a link to the eight deaths. However, she said her son was not homosexual but visited gay bars. “I’d like to squash that implication that he is gay,” Mrs. Riley said.