Valerie Tindall’s mom says accused killer Patrick Scott, 59, acted like ‘jealous boyfriend’ before grizzly murder

The mother of the teenager, who was allegedly lured to death by her 59-year-old neighbor, said the suspected killer acted like a “jealous boyfriend” before taking the 17-year-old's life.

Valerie Tindall, 17, disappeared from Arlington, Indiana on June 7. She was last seen with her neighbor Patrick Scott, 59, for whom she worked.

Tindall's mother, Shena Sandefur, said WRTV that Scott and her daughter “bonded” before admitting that she quickly became concerned about Scott's treatment of the much younger teen.

Sandefur revealed that she moved her family from Indianapolis to Arlington in an effort to distance herself from violence, but instead “moved across the street from a predator.”

However, Tindall reportedly saw nothing wrong with her relationship with her suspected killer.

Shena Sandefur, Valerie Tindall's mother, said Scott and her daughter “had a connection,” before admitting she quickly became concerned about Scott's treatment of her daughter.

Patrick Scott, 59, was arrested Tuesday and charged with the murder of 17-year-old Valerie Tindall, who disappeared June 7 from Arlington, Indiana

Valerie Tindall's body was found Tuesday in a homemade barrel on Patrick Scott's property. Valerie worked for Scott's lawn care company

Tindall worked for his landscaping company and was also friends with his granddaughter.

On Tuesday, police found her remains in a homemade barrel on Scott's property. He was charged with murder and taken to the Rush County Jail.

According to Fox newsCourt documents show Scott will also face obstruction of justice charges for previous false statements he made to police.

When officers arrived at Scott's property, they discovered two boxes that he had made himself. Tindall's body was found in one of the boxes, while the other box was filled with VHS tapes and paperwork.

Scott admitted that before building the coffin, he kept the teen's body in his office and had been using the other coffin for “stuffing” since July.

Investigators also noticed orange painted fingernails on the girl's body, which they knew matched the color she wore in her last social media post uploaded the day she disappeared.

It's unclear why he allegedly decided to take the girl's life, but court documents show that Scott admitted to strangling her in his bedroom with a belt that he then proceeded to wear.

“I put it around her neck and held it until she stopped,” Scott allegedly told police.

He then said the murder “just happened” and accused the victim of tricking him into buying her a new car.

Valerie disappeared from her home on June 7. Her body was found on Tuesday in her neighbour's garden, just 100 meters from where she went missing.

Her mother said she wanted to get help for her daughter, even though Tindall didn't want to. Her mother said Scott 'took advantage' of those feelings

Scott also said the couple often spent time together outside of work, going shopping and dining out.

Sandefur told WRTV that someone else heard Scott tell her daughter that he planned to take her to lunch “somewhere special” in Indianapolis just hours before she disappeared.

Tindall's vehicle was later found abandoned near Shelbyville and Scot.

Shortly after Tindall was last seen, Scott was caught setting his garage on fire, where the teen's body was later found, Fox 59 reported.

Court documents showed that after his arrest and confession, Scott told police his wife and daughter “don't know anything.”

Sandefur remembers her daughter as a “sweet boy” and “very good person” who suffered trauma at a young age.

Tindall was friends with Scott's granddaughter and also worked for him in his lawn care business. Scott admitted to police that he and Tindall regularly met outside of work

Officers searched Patrick Scott's home in the Indianapolis suburb of Arlington on Tuesday and found the teen's body. They continued to search the house for evidence

“She worked hard to get her grades up, she was supposed to go to college, she got accepted and now she'll never get the chance again,” Sandefur said.

She added that she wanted to get help for her daughter, even though Tindall didn't want to. Her mother said Scott “took advantage” of that.

Rush County Sheriff Allan Rice said the case is “far from over,” even with Scott in jail. His property is still being searched to gather as much evidence as possible for his prosecution.

Tindall's mother said the family “moved away from the violence” to a neighborhood she thought would be safe.

Police are still seeking tips from people who saw Tindall or Scott in Shelbyville on June 7.