Clifty Falls Shooting

Detectives from the DNR Law Enforcement Division, along with officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, are currently leading an investigation into a shooting incident that occurred at the parking lot near the North Gate of Clifty Falls State Park.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 28, when multiple 911 calls were received by dispatchers at approximately 2:48 p.m., reporting the shooting. Indiana Conservation Officers, along with officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Madison Police Department, swiftly responded to the scene. Law enforcement successfully apprehended a suspect upon their arrival.

A deceased male, Joseph Renee Lane, 47, of Carrollton, Georgia, was discovered near the parking lot with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.

The suspect, John Dean McElwaney, 33, of Tallapoosa, Georgia, was booked into the Jefferson County Jail. He faces a preliminary charge of voluntary manslaughter, classified as a level 2 felony. Before being admitted to the jail, the suspect underwent evaluation and medical clearance.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is receiving collaborative support from several agencies in this investigation. Alongside the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the City of Madison Police Department, and the Indiana State Police, assistance is being provided by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Jefferson County 911/Central Dispatch, Jennings County 911/Central Dispatch, Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital EMS, and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Probably should be KY…. That's just across the bridge.

They are both in Kentucky too from what I found.

Big deer and big turkeys around there if you can find a spot

I was told a number of details but at the same time ordered not to get too specific in terms of what I share, so I'll share what I think can't do any harm. He was from Georgia and had rode a motorcycle all the way up here. He had been staying in the campground and was thinking about being a camp host. I worked with him Saturday installing a split-rail fence at one of the residences, let's call it a trial run. He struck me as an average guy going through a hard time. Who knows what his full story was, or how many problems he had; one thing is now for certain: He'll never get a chance to work through them.

Life can take some quick turns. One day he was working with me, often regaling me with some tale from his past that related to the task at hand. A couple of days later he's lying dead in the grass hundreds of miles from home, within sight of my beloved North Gate. He did profess to be a man of faith, which makes me feel a little better.
C.O.'s packed up his tent and whatever meager possessions he had this afternoon. It makes you think.

As I said I am thankful no one else got caught up in this dispute. Everybody else was in other parts of the park, though one of us had to identify him. I was choice away from driving right into this. Having finished my tasks I was "making a lap" checking on things as the day wound down. I came to the turn from the campground road...left takes you around a one-way to the inn. Right takes you toward the North gate. I hesitated, and eventually turned left. before I made it around everything had happened. If I had went right and saw his motorcycle, would I have looked closer and seen a heated confrontation going on and went over to cool it down? Most likely. What then?

Very sad situation. No matter what was going on, who started what, etc... there is one life ruined, and one gone. Potential never realized. devastated relatives. So much waste.