Authorities investigating incident; coroner to perform autopsy

On Fri., March 7, 2025, at approximately 5:44 p.m., a 911 call was received in reference to a residential fire in the 4700 block South on County Road 500 East in Howard County, with possible victim entrapment.

Fire units were dispatched from Taylor Township, Greentown Fire, and Harrison Township were dispatched, along with Tipton Fire Department paramedics and the Howard County Sheriff's Office.

Shortly after arrival of the first units, the victim was located inside the home and was pronounced deceased at 6:02 p.m. The Howard County Coroner's Office and the Indiana State Fire Marshall's Office were called to the scene, and assistance was provided at the scene by the Howard County Emergency Management Agency.

The deceased has been preliminarily identified as the home's owner, Judith Margo Dybalski, aged 80. An autopsy has been scheduled at the direction of the Howard County Coroner for Monday, March 10, 2025, at the coroner's office.

This case remains under investigation by the Howard County Sheriff's Office, Howard County Coroner's Office, and the Indiana State Fire Marshall's Office. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Det. Ernie Shirey at 765-614-3449 or by submitting a tip using the sheriff office's app or at www.sheriff.howardcountyin.gov.