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Man takes hostage, has standoff with police

Saturday, April 25, 2009
By JAMIE BARRAND, Editor
Police work to negotiate with a Stilesville man, who took his estranged wife hostage in a camper.

A Stilesville man died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Friday night after a seven-and-a-half hour standoff with police.

Dennis Dean, 46, barricaded himself and his estranged wife in a camper near the intersection of S.R. 40 and C.R. 725W just after 3 p.m., Putnam County Sheriff Steve Fenwick said.

"We negotiated his wife out about 10:30 p.m., and then he shot himself," Fenwick said.

This house was the scene of a hostage situation Friday when a Stilesville man took his estranged wife hostage, but let her go just before taking his own life.

According to information at the Indiana Department of Corrections Web site, Dean was released from the Plainfield Correctional facility on Wednesday. On March 8, 2001, Dean was sentenced to a 10-year suspended sentence for Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor.

On Feb. 11, 2008, he was charged with violating his probation for not registering as a sex offender. Two years and nine months of his sentence was reinstated at that time.

An eyewitness at the standoff said the incident arose from an argument between Dean and his estranged wife over custody and visitation issues.

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  • If you stop to think about it, he did society a favor by killing himself. He can no longer prey on children. If all child molesters, pedophiles and sex offenders would do that, the world would be better off and our children would be safer.

    -- Posted by NotSoInnocent on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 12:59 AM

  • These are people I have never met but my heart goes out to his children.

    -- Posted by cloverlady on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 10:17 AM

  • NotSoInnocent said it all. I know I'm not heartbroken over this SICK_ _ _ killing himself. Someone should have put a gun to his head a long time ago. Thank GOD his wife is ok.

    -- Posted by fourhorses on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 10:30 AM

  • One less sex offender DOC will not have to deal with and the taxpayers won't have to pay for.

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 11:35 AM

  • You need to think about Dennys family members who are reading this article. Dont judge someone without knowing them. I am the cousin of this so called bad man. So watch your @#$@#$@ mouths next time you want to post a comment. He does not prey on children. Thanks for being so heartless on your comments. have a nice day.

    -- Posted by schwatzzz on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 1:16 PM

  • I am commenting on the story as I read it, he was CONVICTED of a Class B Felony, sexual misconduct with a MINOR and received a 10 year sentence for that CONVICTION. If he would have been incarcerated for those 10 years, this whole thing would have never happened. As far as posting comments, if you do not like them or are concerned with fellow family members reading them, then just DON'T read them. No one is forcing you to read them. No, thank you and have a nice day.

    -- Posted by NotSoInnocent on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 2:29 PM

  • schwatzzz..I think he proved that he was more than just a "so called" bad man. It's nothing against you or your family..it just is what it is. If you don't want to read negative comments then just don't read them. And I agree with NotSoInnocent, if the courts would actually give these people the sentences they deserve, we wouldn't be reading/hearing stories like this every single day in the news. My heart goes out to his children though. From personal experience, I know that no matter how bad your father is, something like this is devastating to you if you are his child.

    -- Posted by putnammom on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 4:26 PM

  • I've read this story, however, for all of you judging this person as a bad man, have you stopped and thoughtabout other possibilities such as, maybe this girl told him she was 18 but ended up being younger, it doesn't necessarily mean he purposely violated a child.

    I do not know this man or his family, but I do work with children and I know this type of thing happens all the time.

    Just a thought.

    -- Posted by dbltrbl on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 7:19 PM

  • Well for all the people who think it was a girl telling him she was 18, well im here to tell you that it was not. I was in the 2nd grade when it started!!! and didn't end until i was in 10 grade. I am not going to say a lot because i love my brothers and sister dearly and for them to have to go through this is just madness. He was a horrible person and to go out that way was just getting off easy.

    And thank you to everyone that comment about how he should have been put in jail for the 10 yrs, nope i couldn't get that much for what he did to me, only put on probation, whats that !

    -- Posted by cooper03 on Sat, Apr 25, 2009, at 8:11 PM

  • This man was not "convicted".... he took a plea bargain. No innocent person would ever plead guilty to a sex offense, no matter what the circumstance.

    As far as I am concerned, we should all sleep better now that one less predator is off the streets.

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Sun, Apr 26, 2009, at 1:20 PM

  • Look at the facts. He was sentenced to prison for a class B felony involving a sex crime with a minor. He got out and didn't register as a sex offender (part of the requirments for that type of offense). He goes back to prison. He gets out and just a few days later is involved in a hostage situation. What are people supposed to think about the person, that he was a changed man?

    -- Posted by purple_heat on Sun, Apr 26, 2009, at 3:42 PM

  • lets not leave our kids with you.if you think it's okay what he done, because she left the kids with him. maybe he was tring to turn is life around, but I guesshe went about it the wrong way and there was no way out of it, this time. What about all the COPS lives that he put at risk for little to no pay. Most of them did not even get paid to be out there.

    -- Posted by truestory00 on Sun, Apr 26, 2009, at 5:46 PM

  • Okay so maybe 2 of you that have commented on this situation may have known this guy, but I doubt very seriously that any of you actually knew the entire situation. There are only 2 people that knew his entire life story and they both aren't on this earth anymore. You people are so quick to judge everyone based on your thoughts and not actual facts of the matter. You can contiune posting these negative comments, but the fact is the guy is DEAD and you can no longer hurt him with your words! It's the fact that he was going to be labeled his entire life by everyone that killed him. You got this man's blood what more do you want? The reality of the matter is that you all are judging him and it doesn't matter what you think. There is only one judge that matters and that is GOD! It is between this man and God now so let him be the judge. I just want to hear all these peoples explanation's to God for judging a man they never even knew when they are being judged! LEAVE IT ALONE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK ANYMORE HE IS GONE SO LET IT BE!

    -- Posted by me me on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, at 9:35 AM

  • There is alot more to this story for his estranged wife did not have children with this man, so there was no custody battle or visitation arguements. Because he did not register like is required by sex offenders, the new marriage was entered without the truth being on the table. In which, caused other pains, because something happened in order for the authorities to be made aware of his whereabouts; but more than anything I pray for his family members and the estranged wife, her family members. She had to see a side of a man she loved and did not want to believe existed. She trusted him and was going to share her and "Her" children's lives with this man. I can not imagine the pain she is feeling, both because he was prepared to take her life and that he took his own. This will take alot of prayers, family time, and emotional healing to carry her through this. He made his choices, she had no say in all this: she too was a victim and I thank God that He spared her life, and through Him one day she will be able to overcome all this. You are all in our prayers and hearts......

    -- Posted by kl64 on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, at 12:14 PM

  • To Me Me: What a crock, you're whole comment makes me sick. Religion aside, if we don't "label" and "judge" this type of person then who will take care of our children? Should we allow these offenders to equally walk amongst us, NO! Should we allow the child he has harmed to feel that justice was not served, NO!

    This man ended his life because even he was disgusted and ashamed of what he did, and for that fact, I thank God!

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Mon, Apr 27, 2009, at 3:05 PM

  • WTFRUthinking, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but just because we have the sex offenders register list doesn't mean our children are protected! I know several people that I know for a fact have done way worse than this guy every thought about and NEVER got convicted! They are walking around Wal-Mart freely without labels you think they should have! So yeah I agree we need to protect our children, but come on it was sexual misconduct with a minor not molestation charges! That could be anything from him having an inapporiate magaizine laying around to him saying a joke that was inapporiate. Just because there is a comment posted on here that claims it's from the vicitm doesn't mean it is in fact the victim that posted it! It's over and done so let it be!

    -- Posted by me me on Tue, Apr 28, 2009, at 8:56 AM

  • It was a Class B felony, which if reading the statue right, means there was some kind of contact. But feel free to go ahead and believe and post anything you like because you have that right, just like we also have the same rights

    -- Posted by NotSoInnocent on Tue, Apr 28, 2009, at 9:14 AM

  • Bondsman - In some cases I would agree, but no one would EVER get me to plead guilty to a sex crime against children if I did not do it. I would go to my grave before that would happen.

    -- Posted by NotSoInnocent on Tue, Apr 28, 2009, at 12:36 PM

  • There were many victims in this situation...

    My prayers are with the estranged wife that was held at gun point. She came into this marriage without the truth on the table because the stylesville man did not register as required by law. She was forced to see a side of the man she fell in love with, vowed to share her life, and her children's life with. The stylesville man and estranged wife were not arguing over custody because they shared no children together. He tricked her into coming to discuss other issues when he grabbed her by gun point. By the GRACE of GOD she is alive to raise her children. Her healing will take many family moments, prayers, tears, and God's peace to overcome this ordeal. The victims he used that put him into the system to begin with, and hurt that was caused to them. My heart breaks even for the man that took his life because it is final for him, and his eternity has been put into stone; forever his soul will be tormented and it will never end. His family that will miss the man they knew and loved as a father, son, or brother. I pray that this happening will remind all that our choices effect soooo many, not just ourselves but innocent prople around us. We will be held accountable for decisions we make, seek out help before you hurt someone!!!

    -- Posted by kl64 on Tue, Apr 28, 2009, at 1:36 PM

  • Ok here, seriously Me ME, I am the victim of this, and u think that other people did way worse...HA u have not idea what he did to me for 8 years of my childhood, he took everything from me!! I had to go through so much s#@t to get to where i am today. The whole sexual misconduct with a minor is just crap, ya i may not have been his real daughter(he told me if i was his real daughter that it wouldn't be happening) -it was still molestation- he got off like he did because he only confessed to doing it one time, which like I said before it was 8 yrs of my life and who knows he could have been doing it longer but since i was soooo young when it started i may just not be remembering it. So please just stop defending him, he did this and there is nothing you can say to make it sound any better, so just stop. it is upsetting me and my family, he left behind 3 wonderful children that have to live without a dad now, even though he was NEVER around to see them nor was he paying child support. Oh and by the way God will not be judging him because he will not be going to heaven.

    -- Posted by cooper03 on Tue, Apr 28, 2009, at 1:39 PM

  • kl64, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The only fact you got right is that they had no children together. It was her idea to go over there not his, and she knew everything about his past and it was her idea to get married in the first place, not his. He warned her about what would follow and the troubles they would have. So until you get you facts straight here's an idea....SHUT UP!!! Better yet, why don't we all shut up because this matter is not going to be going any further because the man is gone...Good, bad or in between he is gone, and nothing else matters. For those of you who liked him, remember him as you knew him, and for those of you who didn't know him and know nothing about the situation, remember him however you want. But don't believe some pretend victim who writes crap on here about it being eight years. Thats just some crock of crap some moron came up with to get a few or poor me's out of a mans death. It's easy to say things after someone is gone and can't defend themselves. But once again, the bottom line is that the man is gone, so lets put it to rest, be grown ups, and move on with life.

    -- Posted by derrr1 on Wed, Apr 29, 2009, at 11:22 AM

  • I met this family nearly 15 years ago. I was very close to the situation and I know the way Dennis could manipulate people. He could put fear in his children and he could turn around and cuddle them up like a big teddy bear. He has left behind three children that will remember the near perfect dad of their youth. They will remember the playing, the fishing, the wrestling and the love he had for them. These three children need our sympathy and support. They do not need to see people that do not know the situation trashing their dad. On the other hand, the ex-wife and her beautiful daughter do not need the other people out there that do not know the monster he could be. The lies he could tell, the violence he was capable of, the anger he would hold in until he exploded and the abuse he caused. These two women have been forced over the years to keep their mouths shut so the others would not know how he was. I love this family even with all their shortcomings. We all have people in our lives that we know are not what they seem. Unfortunately, for this family, it was their dad. We need to help them cope and not follow in their dad's foot-steps. For years, the ex-wife and her daughter were forced to lie about this abuse, for fear of their lives. If you remember this man (for the lack of a better word) as a friend then that is fine for you. But, if you really knew him, you know he was vain. He only cared about himself and what others could do for him. Finally, he did something for himself. I just feel sorry for the family he torn apart.

    -- Posted by quadstatue on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 9:40 AM

  • I just found out about this situation, and in all honesty, I feel that there is only one comment posted here so far that seems to be from someone who actually knew Dennis, his kids, his ex ... and the dark side of him that got him into all of the trouble that led to his taking of his own life.

    I do not agree with many of the things he has said or done over the 20+ years I had known him, and quite honestly I feel that all of his troubles he had experienced where all brought on by no one but himself. With that said ... I am sure that in his very depressed state that he was in that last day of his life, he probably felt and thought that he had absolutly no one in his life to turn to. Depression is a very hard and difficult thing to live with each day, and I think Dennis felt he could not face it any longer.

    Read into it what you want, think what you want, but unless you know the facts on this matter, you should not comment. Things he did were wrong, very wrong ... I do not agree with those things ... but let's not judge him or make things worse for his kids then he had already done himself.

    Right, wrong, indifferent ... the man died with no one in his corner but his guilt, bad memories, some good memories ... but no human connection that would or could help him out.

    -- Posted by Comments-by-fact on Sat, May 16, 2009, at 4:14 PM

  • I found out just today what happened and only by people who loved me and cared about me were concerned regarding my welfare as I was in a relationship with this man for several years. What I find most surprising is the fact that no one will use their name when posting a comment even tho by reading these it is pretty easy to figure out who you are but I am not afraid to use my name as I, for one, was taken by this man for several years and he was very good at "hiding" things from everyone, even people who thought they were close to him. Dennis did have a dark side and a scary one at that. He often times exhibited behavior that was terrifying but always had an "excuse" as to why. He was not an easy man to break ties with either. I am very sorry for his children who I know he loved very much and for the hurt and pain that will stay with them the rest of their lives. I am so grateful that I was able to finally break ties with him and that my children were not hurt by him. I did not know that he had been married again, and my son had seen him a few years ago and actually had dinner with him and his then girlfriend whom I assume he later married. I often wondered if she knew of his past as my son had mentioned that she had a little girl. I regret that I did not try and contact her and at least let her know but it really wasn't any of my business and maybe he had changed. My heart and prayers go out to her and I am here to talk to if she wants to. I am very grateful that she was not physically harmed but I know the emotional pain will not ever heal completely.

    I am shocked that he would take his own life as he used to be so afraid of dying but no one, even the people who thought they knew him, will ever know what brought him to the point of ending his life.

    For all of us that knew him, or who want to post a comment, please remember that even tho he is no longer here, his children are and that is what we all must remember that good or bad, he was still their father and they must try and make peace with what happened.

    -- Posted by KMullin on Sat, May 16, 2009, at 9:05 PM

  • "KMullin" ... You are correct on all accounts. I find myself bothered by this, and hope and pray that the one offense (even though that was tragic enough) is the only person this ever happened to. I know at this point you have to be somewhat relieved too, and now do not have to worry for your daughters well being.

    Do you remember though how many times others tried to warn you, and you always wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt? I am just thankful that nothing tragic ever happened to you or your family.

    Best of luck ....

    An old friend.

    -- Posted by Comments-by-fact on Mon, May 18, 2009, at 6:31 PM

  • Dennis was a friend of mine when all these bad things happened.Although I was around I never saw any warning signs.This girl was a very sweet young child.I wished I could have seen something to help her.I have not seen Dennis in years .I did not know of his prison sentence.Dennis always called me Johnny like only my family does.I pray for his soul it has been lost for a long time.But more important I pray for the victim and her family which I have not seen for a long time.I try to look for warning signs for my wife and I have children we love dearly.

    -- Posted by bow hunter on Tue, May 19, 2009, at 11:16 AM
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