Officials mum as they investigate death of missing Griffith woman

Law enforcement officials are being tight-lipped about the circumstances leading up to the discovery of a missing Griffith woman’s body in a burned-out, abandoned home in Gary.

Deborah Leslie, 30, of the 200 block of Manor Drive, was found Sept. 23 in the structure in the 5300 block of W. 8th Ave., according to the Lake County Coroner’s office. She had been missing since Sept. 20, when she was last seen at Motel 6, 3840 19th St., in Hammond, with some people in video footage, according to a social media post her brother, James Leslie, posted September 26. Pictures of two of the people, as well as Leslie’s car, have also been circulating through social media.

Griffith Police Chief Greg Mance said Tuesday that his department initially took a welfare check report on Sept. 23 and have been assisting the Hammond Police Department.

Hammond and Gary police did not provide any additional information by Wednesday afternoon. The Gary Police Department did not respond to a request for comment. Hammond Police spokesman Lt. Steve Kellogg said Tuesday the investigation into Leslie’s death is now a multi-agency investigation. On Wednesday, he said detectives are still working on the investigation and no new information currently was available.

Gary Fire Chief Sean O’Donnell said he could not comment on the investigation. He confirmed the fire department was called out to a vacant dwelling fire on Sept. 23.

“When the companies arrived, the dwelling was fully engulfed in fire,” O’Donnell said. “The structure was pretty much burned to the ground.”

The fire has been under investigation by the Gary fire marshal and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office. The body was discovered in the aftermath of the blaze. O’Donnell said firefighters had no idea who the body was at the time of discovery. Leslie’s body was identified through a forensic autopsy and dental records, according to a release from the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

O’Donnell would not specify if the fire appeared intentional. Fires in vacant buildings are suspicious in nature since there are no utilities running to the structures.

“All fires are investigated for cause and origin of the fire,” O’Donnell said.

He encouraged anyone with information to contact the fire department at 219-881-5220.

There was an outpouring of tributes to Leslie from friends and family members on Facebook starting Tuesday night, when news of her death was made public.

Griffith Public Schools Superintendent Leah Dumezich, a longtime family friend, expressed her condolences in a Facebook post.

“I have no words to bring (Deborah’s mother) Maggie Feist Leslie comfort,” she wrote. “I have no words or actions that can take this pain away from your siblings and family who will without a doubt feel such an emptiness without your light, Deborah Leslie. You were a “light”, a smile that was genuine, that was kind, and you were filled with love in your heart and a love for God. I will forever remember your sweetness as a little girl, your smile that could light up a room. You will be deeply missed and remembered by all who knew you. I have no doubt you are in heaven, at peace, and wrapped with God’s love.”

Leslie’s sister Carole Feist in a Facebook post Tuesday said she was hopeful police were continuing the investigation to find who she was with and what happened.

“Even if her death was accidental, it’s obvious they’ve gone through lengthy measures to cover it up,” she wrote.

Leslie’s Facebook posts indicated she was in recovery for an unspecified substance abuse issue. Her last post was Sept. 2 with friends at the Indiana Dunes State Park. The post bore the hashtags #wedorecover, #sobrietyisworthit, #recoveryispossible and #recoverycommunity.

Friend Kyle Poppaw of Terra Haute said he met Leslie through the Anabranch Recovery Center in Terra Haute. They last saw each other at the Anabranch Alumni event at the Indiana Dunes Leslie had posted about.

Poppaw said Leslie was the nicest, most caring person he has ever met. He said he has been emotional since learning of her death.

“I just know that she was worth so much, her presence and just the positive vibe she gave everyone was beautiful,” Poppaw said. “She will be missed and was irreplaceable to say the least.”