Greencastle man dies while cutting tree in northwest Greencastle Township

A 57-year-old man died in rural Greencastle Monday evening while cutting a tree on his property.

Police located the body of Robert Allen, Greencastle, between 1:10 and 1:30 a.m., having searched the five-acre plot of land for several hours.

Allen was reported missing to Putnam County Dispatch at 9:44 p.m. by a family friend, with police from multiple departments converging on the 1699 N. CR 175 West address.

Capt. Doug Nally, detective for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, said it was determined that Allen died of blunt force trauma to the head when a branch fell separately from the rest of the tree.

Investigators determined that Allen had cut the tree and wedged it so it would fall in the direction he wanted. However, as the tree fell, it apparently rotated, causing one limb to break off and fall in the opposite direction.

“That limb was lying right next to him and we determined that was the cause,” Nally said.

Other PCSD deputies and Indiana State troopers were on the scene throughout the night, with Roachdale Town Marshal Adrian Lepine utilizing the Roachdale Fire Department’s thermal imaging camera and Cloverdale Deputy Levi App bringing his K9 partner Maggie to assist with the search.

The investigation was turned over to the Putnam County Coroner’s Office.