Human remains in Bartholomew County ID’d; man arrested in murder of girlfriend

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) — The human remains found in a shallow grave in Bartholomew County Thursday have been identified, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday.

Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting identified the remains as 37-year-old Heather Steuver, of Columbus. The cause of her death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Her boyfriend, 38-year-old Patrick Doyle, also of Columbus, has been preliminarily charged with her murder.

The Bartholomew County Sherriff’s Office said the remains were found just off of County Road 400 North, between U.S. 31 and River Road.

A missing person’s report was taken for Steuver on Aug. 26. While investigating Steuver’s disappearance, police initially charged Doyle with possession of child pornography on Thursday.

The Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office assisted in the investigation.