Richmond Police responded Wednesday to the area of the Starr Gennett Building in Whitewater Gorge Park after receiving a report of a deceased individual. Investigators said they are still working to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the death, and as of Wednesday there was no preliminary suspicion of foul play.
According to a statement from the Richmond Police Department, officers were called to the site regarding the report and confirmed a deceased individual was found. The department said it would release additional information if appropriate as the investigation continues, and asked that the privacy of the deceased and their family be respected. The department has not identified the individual.
Under Indiana law, county coroners and law enforcement agencies jointly handle medicolegal investigations into unattended or unexplained deaths, a process that gives coroners statutory authority to order toxicology testing and forensic autopsies, per Indiana Code Title 36 ยง 36-2-14-6. Coroners issue official cause-of-death determinations only after laboratory toxicology and pathology reports come back, a process that can take weeks. That means the police department's early read of no apparent foul play is not the same as a final ruling from the Wayne County Coroner's Office, which has not yet issued its own findings.
A Storied Site With Recent Police Activity
The Starr Gennett Building sits at 101 South 1st Street inside Whitewater Gorge Park, a city-owned venue with a 600-person capacity, according to Richmond Parks and Recreation.
The building is discussed in connection with Richmond's musical heritage.
The area has seen other recent law enforcement activity. On June 16, 2026, a property damage and theft report at the Starr Gennett Building led to the arrest of local resident Kevin J. Hodge on felony theft and criminal mischief charges nine days later, as reported by WHIO-TV. That investigation, like this week's death inquiry, was handled by the police department's Investigative Services Division.
Investigative Division Oversees Complex Cases Citywide
The Investigative Services Division was involved in the Hodge investigation described above.
The division's broader caseload and Richmond's 2026 crime outlook were not detailed in the sources provided.
Park Still Set to Host Music Festival Next Week
Despite this week's discovery, the Starr Gennett grounds remain a site for community activity.
For now, police have not named the deceased individual and have not said when the coroner's findings might be complete. The department reiterated that it will share additional details if appropriate as the investigation continues, while asking the public to respect the privacy of the deceased and their family.
