GREENFIELD — The investigation into the shooting death of business owner Amie Strohl has concluded, and officials determined she took her own life.
Strohl, 50, Greenfield, died Tuesday morning, Sept. 8, at her place of business, Greenfield Granite Co. Capt. Michael Schwamberger of the Greenfield Police Department noted in a news release there were no signs of foul play and there were no concerns about danger to the public.
The findings from law enforcement were turned over Wednesday to the prosecutor’s office for review, a standard step in the investigative process, Prosecutor Brent Eaton said.
“Any time there is an unnatural death, we’re going to work with the coroner and law enforcement to do everything we can make sure all the evidence is found to figure out what happened,” Eaton said.
Chief Jeff Rasche noted detectives conducted a thorough investigation.
“There were a couple of different notes she had left, and from everything else we have looked into, we feel certain she took her own life,” Rasche said.
Strohl’s death happened on the day she was scheduled to appear in Hancock County Superior Court 2 to face a small claims case pending against her and the business she owns with her husband, James Strohl.
The civil lawsuit is one of several the business is or was facing in which customers accused Amie Strohl of taking their money and then not providing a headstone or special grave marker ordered for a family remembrance.
According to county court records, the case is still moving forward, with a bench trial set for Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Superior Court 2 after the plaintiff, Bessie E. Williams, appeared in court.
Williams had arranged to buy a headstone from the business after her husband died in October 2019. She paid $2,800 for it, but the stone has never been delivered.
Amie Strohl’s death also comes at the same time GPD was in the middle of a much larger investigation into the business. The department had received more than 30 complaints from customers who had paid for a grave marker but had not received a headstone or other work.
“There are still a lot of people out there who have been scammed,” Rasche said. “We don’t know just yet what will happen with that investigation now that Amie Strohl is gone.”
GPD’s investigation into the business will continue, he said.
Whether Greenfield Granite customers who feel they have been defrauded are able to seek recourse successfully will depend on a number of factors, but is likely not affected by Strohl’s death, a legal expert said. Any claims related to the business should be filed against the company, not against her estate, and her personal assets would not be eligible to be claimed by creditors of the business. Such claims could continue to be heard in Hancock County small claims court.
In the event that Greenfield Granite declared bankruptcy in the near future, things would become more complicated for the unsatisfied customers. Depending on what type of bankruptcy was filed, customers might be able to make a claim to seek repayment.
However, local attorney Scott Wooldridge said, the viability of seeking a refund in such circumstances varies. He noted that attorneys have an ethical duty to consider whether a business would realistically be able to pay back a client and, if that is not the case, to advise the client not to throw good money after bad by pursuing legal action.
Jessica Karins of the Daily Reporter staff contributed to this story.
