Bloomington man charged with Greene County woman’s murder

A Bloomington man has been charged with the murder of a Solsberry, Ind. woman found dead last week near a Greene County church.

Randy L. Knapp was charged with murder, a class A felony, criminal confinement, a class B felony, and obstruction of justice, a class D felony. The charges are in connection with the death of Stacey Lawson, 28, Indiana State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil said in a press release Friday.

Lawson’s body was discovered on Aug. 20 in a wooded area south of county roads 760 East and 740 North, near Newark Baptist Church. The church is about 20 miles west of Bloomington.

An autopsy of the victim’s body determined she died from blunt force trauma to her head, Durnil said.

Knapp has been held in the Monroe County Jail since Saturday evening on a charge of residential entry, a class D felony. It is unclear if the charges are related.

The arrest was the result of a joint investigation between the ISP and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Durnil said. The Bloomington Police Department also assisted in the arrest.

Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw said he anticipates Knapp’s initial hearing to take place early next week. Holtsclaw said he will not comment any further on the case, as it is pending.