Findlay mother found dead; daughter is arrested

Detective Sgt. Thomas Blunk investigates the death of a 75-year-old woman in rural Hancock County. Police say Linda Brown was the homeowner and was taking care of her mother.

Detective Sgt. Thomas Blunk investigates the death of a 75-year-old woman in rural Hancock County. Police say Linda Brown was the homeowner and was taking care of her mother.

FINDLAY - A 75-year-old woman was found dead yesterday in rural Hancock County, and her daughter, who tried to kill herself, is to be charged with the death, Sheriff Michael Heldman said.

Winifred Brown, who lived in Cass Township, northeast of Findlay, was found lying in her bedroom and is believed to have been killed with a sharp object.

"There was a considerable amount of blood," Sheriff Heldman said.

The woman's daughter, Linda Brown, 37, was found at the scene severely injured. She was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo. Hospital officials did not release any information on her condition.

She has been placed under arrest. A murder charge was expected to be filed today or Monday, Sheriff Heldman said.

The sheriff believes Linda Brown was the homeowner and was taking care of her mother there.

A third woman who lived at the residence called sheriff's deputies at 2:36 a.m. yesterday about an attempted suicide.

Heldman

According to the 911 audio, Jill Darnell, 49, said she was attacked by Linda Brown and then fled the home.

When she returned to the residence to get her car keys, she discovered Linda Brown lying in the hallway with her "throat slit [and] wrist slit."

Ms. Darnell was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, sheriff's deputies said.

Deputies are unsure why the incident occurred and said none of the women had prior records of violence.

"We don't know what type of problems there were," Sheriff Heldman said.

Jill Altman lived next door to the women, who have been at that residence for about three years. She called them "perfect neighbors."

Ms. Altman said when she spoke with Ms. Darnell about 9 p.m. Wednesday while watering her garden, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"It was the same old routine," Ms. Altman said.

Ms. Altman's daughter, Renee, worked with Linda Brown at the Findlay Animal Care Center about three years ago.

Linda Brown is still listed on the care center's Web site as a pet stylist. The two women exchanged small talk, but not much more, said Renee Altman, now of New York City.

"She was a quiet person," she said. "She kept to herself."

Troy Massie, 15, who lives two houses down with his grandmother, used to mow Linda Brown's lawn about every two weeks.

"They all seemed to get along real well," he said.

Staff writer Mark Zaborney contributed to this report.

Contact Laren Weber at: lweber@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.