A tip led police to find a body in a well on a Westport farm over the weekend. The murder suspect was on the loose, according to Indiana State Police, until about 8:00 p.m. last night, July 19 when he turned himself in to an Indiana Conservation Officer at Madison.

The body of Floyd Lee Small, 29, of Flatrock, was found in an old well on the Timothy Menkedick property near Westport. Investigators followed up on a rumor that Small had been murdered by Menkedick, 42, sometime in February and his body had been placed in a well. On Sunday, July 16, police found a body in an old well or cistern that had been completely filled in. While the body is undergoing forensic examination, officials say preliminary information indicates it is indeed the body of Small.

Small is no stranger to the law enforcement officials in Ripley County. He was involved in a situation involving drugs that began in Ripley County and led to a high-speed chase where the Rush County Sheriff was seriously injured. “We’ve dealt with Small several times here,” noted Sheriff Bill Davison.
Initially after the body was found, police asked the public for help in finding Menkedick, who was described as being armed and dangerous.

The murder investigation is being conducted by the Indiana State Police, assisted by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Decatur County Prosecutor’s Office, Decatur County Coroner’s Office, University of Indianapolis Anthropology Department, Indiana Department of Transportation, Westport Fire Department, and the Westport Street Department.

Menkedick is being held at the Decatur County Jail, Greensburg, pending arraignment on the murder charge.

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