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Last updated on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
(McCORMICK’S CREEK STATE PARK) - Department of Natural Resource officers say the man who claims he was shot by an unknown assailant at McCormick’s Creek State Park on June 25th, shot himself.
43-year-old Pete Raventos, of 3892 W. Mill Run, was arrested Monday morning on charges of false informing and obstruction of justice.
Raventos told police he was hiking in the park when he was shot from behind with a shotgun. He was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital where they removed more than 22 pellets from under his skin.
DNR Lt. Kent Hutchins says officers began to doubt Raventos' story, which is why Indiana Conservation officers served a search warrant on Raventos' home June 27.
Officers seized evidence from his property on West Mill Run and witness statements led investigators to believe Raventos rigged a shotgun so he could shot himself.
While searching the park, police found bungee cords, fishing line, a spent shotgun shell, an unspent shotgun shell, and a small piece of plywood embedded with shotgun pellets were found.
Scuba divers found a 20-gauge shotgun in the nearby White River, which police linked to Raventos.
"This incident, whatever the motive, placed needless fear in the public's mind that our state parks are unsafe," DNR director Rob Carter said in a news release. "We do everything we can to make state parks an enjoyable experience for visitors, above all families. I'm pleased that our Law Enforcement Division was able to get to the bottom of this and bring it to a quick resolution so the public can have peace of mind when they visit the park."
Raventos, with his attorney, turned himself in to the Owen County Jail Monday morning. Bond was set at $5,000 surety, and his attorney paid the required 10 percent to have his client released at 11:03 a.m.
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