SHOOTING DEATH PROBED: Owner of Greenfield Granite discovered inside business; firm had been under investigation

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The Indiana attorney general's office is continuing to pursue litigation against Greenfield Granite, even though no criminal charges are being filed.

GREENFIELD — The yellow and black crime scene tape extended around the outside of the building, even around the headstones on display Tuesday morning in front of Greenfield Granite Co. on Main Street.

Greenfield Police Department officers were stationed around the well-known business, and detectives were inside the building investigating the death of business owner Amie Strohl.

Strohl, who was found inside the business shortly after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, had died from a gunshot wound, Chief Jeff Rasche said.

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The death is under investigation, and officials obtained a search warrant late Tuesday afternoon. Detectives are ruling nothing out in their inquiry, including the possibility that Strohl took her own life.

Strohl, 50, is listed as the president of Greenfield Granite, which crafts grave markers and is known as the oldest continuously run business in the county. Strohl and her husband, James, were at work Tuesday morning when James left for a short time. When he came back, he found his wife dead, he told police.

“There is plenty of video surveillance all around, so we’ll be looking into that,” Rasche said of detectives’ due diligence.

Late Tuesday afternoon, GPD issued a news release that said no signs of foul play had been found and that there were “no concerns for any danger to the public.”

Amie Strohl’s death came on the same day she was to appear in Hancock County Superior Court 2 for a civil case in small claims court.

The case was coming amid an active investigation by GPD involving approximately 30 complaints from customers.

Customers told police Amie Strohl took their money for the purchase of grave markers but the business didn’t provide the markers as promised. GPD had not filed any criminal charges against Amie Strohl as of Tuesday, Lt. Nichole Gilbert said. But Gilbert noted it’s an active investigation.

“Victimwise, it’s in the 30s,” Gilbert said of the number of complaints. “Obviously, we’re still taking in calls from victims, and we’re awaiting some records to review.”

One of the numerous complaints filed against Amie Strohl was from Bessie E. Williams, Greenfield, the complainant in the case set for small claims court Tuesday afternoon.

Williams arranged to buy a headstone from the business after her husband died in October 2019. The double headstone was meant to feature her name along with his, and Williams paid $2,800 up front for it.

After eight months of waiting and asking Amie Strohl about when it would be ready, Williams decided to file a lawsuit to get her money back.

“I just got excuse after excuse after excuse,” Williams said, adding that Strohl eventually tried to blame the delay on the COVID-19 pandemic — which didn’t start until months after her purchase.

Williams, who spoke to the Daily Reporter shortly before Strohl’s death was confirmed, said she trusted Greenfield Granite because of its long history in the community. She said she wanted her money back so she could finally provide her husband’s resting place with a marker.

“I’m just devastated; she has just sent me in a whirlwind,” Williams said.

Williams said she did not believe Greenfield Granite ever began making a headstone for her husband.

“It’s sad,” Williams said. “She’s been stealing money from people who’ve lost a loved one.”

Williams’ experience with the business was not unique. Diane and Michael Detering of Knightstown filed suit against Greenfield Granite in August. They were asking for repayment of $1,327 they had paid toward a cemetery stone, as well as the return of a framed photo they had provided to the business. In their filing, the Deterings wrote that they had not received the stone, which had been promised to them by May 25.

Their case was scheduled to be heard on Oct. 13.

Two other lawsuits against Greenfield Granite had recently been dismissed. Marian Short of Indianapolis filed a claim for $3,892.87 on July 28, but she filed to dismiss the case the next day.

Martha Crider of Greenfield filed a claim for $2,800.13 on Aug. 21 for the cost of a “product purchased but never received,” according to court documents. On Sept. 2, her lawyer filed and was granted a motion to dismiss the case because the two parties had resolved their dispute outside court.

WRTV-TV (Channel 6) interviewed several frustrated and angry customers who made similar allegations in late August. At the time, Strohl said she was working to refund people’s money and blamed the pandemic for the company’s troubles.

On Tuesday, as word spread about what had happened, a number of customers drove by the business, 952 W. Main St., investigators said. They were demanding refunds or delivery of the grave markers they had purchased.

The family-owned business celebrated its 122th birthday in July, making it the oldest surviving business in the county. The building in which it had operated for decades was sold last week, according to real estate records.

The business was originally founded by J.H. Brooks in the late 1890s. Amie Strohl was his great-great-great niece.