Murder victim found in northside fire identified

McMinkle/Facebook photo

​Ashley McMinkle, 25, of Brazil, Ind.,  was murdered last weekend, when a man she was with allegedly stabbed her while in a drug-related rage. 

McMinkle's remains were found in a burn pit after the Terre Haute Fire Department responded to a house fire on the north side Sunday morning.

The Terre Haute Police Department homicide investigation progressed quickly.. Suspect Larry P. Prouse, 32, of Terre Haute, was apprehended by THPD officers and charged with her murder and arson the following day.

THPD Chief of Police Shawn Keen stated yesterday that McMinkle's body was unrecognizable after being stabbed multiple times and then being burned, which challenged officials in making a positive identification of the victim.

"Investigators were able to match multiple tattoos and jewelry  to known photographs of McMickle," he said today., noting that the Vigo County Coroner's Office assisted with the investigation.  "Preliminary identification was made  through e-mailed fingerprints from the victim, but confirmation on the prints is still   proceeding through examination of the originals."

Many people are showing their respects for the victim by commenting on her Facebook page photo, which reportedly was updated nearly one year ago at this time. She would have turned 26 next month.

Some comments posted on her Facebook profile, include:
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• R.I.P so sad and my heart aches for this family. No one deserve this :(
•  Girl i cant belive ur gone like y u i love u n miss u
• OMG seriously I haven't seen her since school she was my side kick when we were young
• Rip nobody deserves this may god be with your family and kids from here on out fly hi and watch over us all
• RIP, I can't believe this happened

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See her obituary at www.frenchfuneralhome.com

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