LEAVENWORTH —
An Iraq war veteran and caving enthusiast took his own life about half a mile from where he left his car on a rural road but more than four months passed before four young spelunkers exploring where they weren’t allowed found him deep inside a treacherous cave, Indiana conservation officers said Tuesday.
Kevin Eve, 25, of Georgetown, Ind., died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said.
Eve was last seen Oct. 1, and his car was found two days later in Harrison-Crawford State Forest about 30 miles west of Louisville, Ky. His body was found Sunday by other cavers inside Breathing Hole Cave in the state forest along the Ohio River.
“Evidence suggests that Kevin Eve’s trip to that cave was a planned effort to end his own life,” Indiana Conservation Officer Cpl. Terry Allen said in a news release. “There were no signs of a struggle or entrapment at the scene.”
Recovering Eve’s body required negotiating 154 feet of staggered climbs near the cave’s exit. Groups of six to eight people at a time moved the body up and over wet and muddy obstacles before handing it off to another group of people, a relay that ended Monday night nearly 24 hours after the Indiana Department of Natural resources’ Cave Rescue Team arrived on the scene, Lt. Phil Schuetter said.
“We had some officers underground for 18 of those hours,” Schuetter said.
Four college-age cavers from Terre Haute had discovered Eve’s body Sunday morning about one-third of a mile into Breathing Hole Cave but did not notify authorities until that afternoon when they returned to Terre Haute, Schuetter said. Breathing Hole and all other caves on state property have been closed to the public since 2009 to inhibit the spread of white-nose syndrome among bat populations.
Conservation officers have not decided whether to pursue misdemeanor charges against the Terre Haute cavers for violating the cave closure.
“We want to protect our bats,” Schuetter said. “Our caves are closed.”
After Eve’s disappearance, conservation officers organized a search effort that canvassed about 25 square miles of some of the most rugged hills in Indiana and examined 85 caves. The search involved more than 200 people including foresters, police and cavers from as far away as Iowa, said Conservation Officer Jim Hash, leader of the Cave Rescue Team.
Breathing Hole Cave is one of about 350 caves in Harrison-Crawford State Forest. It had been searched twice before, but Eve’s body was found in a relatively unknown passage unlisted on some cave maps, officers said.
Indiana is home to around 3,100 caves.
Local & Bistate
Terre Haute group locates missing caver
Body found 1⁄3-mile inside Breathing Hole Cave
- Local & Bistate
-
-
A fallen soldier returns home
An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Arronn D. Fields early Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
-
Official touts trade with northern neighbor
A top Canadian diplomat told a Terre Haute audience Thursday his country was “disappointed” when President Obama at least temporarily rejected a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas.
-
Caution urged for summer’s kickoff
Lane restrictions in construction zones on Interstate 70 and other highways around the state will be lifted to accommodate holiday travel for the Memorial Day Weekend.
-
Letters delivered
Several positions will be eliminated this summer at the Terre Haute mail processing facility as the U.S. Postal Service begins moving the operation to Indianapolis, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman has confirmed.
-
Companies seek Vigo tax abatements
Two Vigo County companies are seeking tax abatements for expansion projects, one of which is included as part of a county incentive package.
-
High-speed chase suspect caught in West Virginia
The suspect in a cross-country, high-speed chase originating in Terre Haute last week was reportedly in federal custody Thursday evening.
-
Second victim of deadly I-70 semi-trailer crash identified
The Vigo County Coroner’s Office has identified the passenger of a semi-tractor crash on May 16 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 12-mile marker.
- VIGO COUNTY JAIL LOG: May 22-24, 2012
-
Burn ban in effect for Vigo County through holiday weekend
Vigo County officials have issued a burn ban effective Thursday and remains in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday.
-
Brazil remembers a Fallen Son
A small town seemed sadly quiet Wednesday, waiting to honor a local fallen warrior.
-
ISU OKs four-year degree guarantee
Indiana State University has announced a four-year “graduation guarantee” for students enrolling this fall and beyond.
-
Dems tout good side of compromise
Indiana Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, chosen to run as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate John Gregg, said during a stop Wednesday in Terre Haute that bipartisan experience is a key factor in creating jobs and legislation to help Hoosiers statewide.
-
Motorcyclist dies, motorist charged after accident
A Terre Haute man has died of injuries he sustained in a two-motorcycle, one-car crash that also injured another motorcyclist late Tuesday. The incident has led to the arrest of the car’s driver.
-
Grant money will help replace Collett Park area tree canopy
A combination of city funds and a state grant is allowing TREES Inc. and the city of Terre Haute to plant 100 trees next year to replace a storm-destroyed street-tree canopy in the Collett Park neighborhood.
-
Schools surpass goal for Riley
The lives of about 5,000 children in Vigo County are touched each year by Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, and now, the Riley Children’s Foundation has been touched with gratitude by students in the Vigo County School Corp.
-
Historic preservation proposal discussed during open forum
More than three dozen people turned out Wednesday to ask questions about a proposed Terre Haute ordinance that would set up a formal process to preserve historic properties in the city.
-
Banks of the Wabash workers getting festival ready to roll
Concession stands and amusement rides lined the lawn, waiting for a crowd.
-
Search on for Gibault walkaway
The Indiana State Police are seeking help in finding a juvenile who they say walked away from a Vigo County treatment facility Sunday evening.
-
Graduate college in four years? ISU ‘guarantees’ it
Indiana State University has announced a four-year graduation guarantee for students enrolling this fall and beyond.
-
School bus crashes into central Indiana home
A school bus rumbled through the backyard of a suburban Indianapolis home and crashed into the side of the house.
-
Markets swoon, oil prices fall as anxiety about Europe takes hold
The threat of a financial crisis spreading from Europe shook markets on Wednesday. The euro dropped to a nearly two-year low against the dollar. Oil prices sank to their lowest this year, and stocks took another fall.
-
The closing of St. Ann Parish: Shuttered parish will help others live on
St. Ann Parish celebrated its last Mass on Sunday.
-
Foreclosure lawsuit questions dog mayor
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett said Tuesday he is “100 percent” certain the foreclosure suit filed against him by GMAC Mortgage on his eastside home will be resolved within the next “couple of weeks.”
-
TB case cause for concern, not panic
A suspected case of tuberculosis at a Vigo County middle school is cause for concern, but health officials are taking appropriate precautionary steps, says Union Hospital’s chief medical officer
Dr. John Bolinger said the suspected TB case at Woodrow Wilson Middle School “is a concern,” but Vigo County and state health departments “are there to handle situations like this. They’ll do the right thing.” -
Woodgate residents considering legal action
Residents came in force Tuesday to try to compel the Vigo County Board of Commissioners to change how a development is progressing near Woodgate subdivisions in southern Vigo County.
-
Clay County soldier dies in Afghanistan
A 27-year-old Knightsville resident and Northview High School graduate died Monday from a rocket propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan while serving with the Indiana National Guard.
-
Farmersburg man arrested on rape charge
A Farmersburg man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and criminal confinement after a May 4 incident that allegedly occurred at his parents’ residence.
-
Truck driver in double fatal crash identified
A truck driver killed in a crash on Interstate 70 in Vigo County last Wednesday has been identified as Alfonso Ochoa Diaz, 60, River Rouge, Mich.
-
Two arrested on reckless driving charges
Indiana State Police on Tuesday nabbed two drivers accused of reckless driving in northern Vermillion County.
-
Garfield Towers resident, injured in fire, dies
A man who sustained burns in the Garfield Towers fire has died at an Indianapolis hospital.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Raw Video: SpaceX Capsule's Docking Delayed
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Sudden Storm Topples Wisconsin Trees
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Raw Video: Wildfire Burns 110 Square Miles
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
Alison Brie Likes To Jog Naked
Heidi Klum Goes Sheer
Alton's Best Burger Ever
Ellie Kemper's Stripper Surprise on 'Ellen'
Maddie the Balancing Dog On Cross-Country Trip
Crawford's Sexy Leather Look
Boys eyes 'removed with spoon'
"Twilight" Stars Caught Kissing
Etan Patz Case: Suspect Arrested
Britney's Hot Pink Mini-Dress
Wrongfully accused rapist exonerated after 5 years in jail
Actress to Play Casey Anthony
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
Prince William on The Queen: 'Woman in Man's World'
