Coroner locates family of dead siblings

MUNCIE – Officials have been able to locate next of kin for a local brother and sister who recently died.

A first cousin of Rodney and Truly Stines has been notified of their deaths, according to Delaware County Coroner Scott Hahn, who said his office was able to track down family through an old obituary.

The two siblings died only a few days apart. One from a car-bicycle crash and the other cause of death remains unknown.

Rodney Stines, 68, died from extensive head and abdomen injures after he collided with a car Sunday afternoon. He was riding his bicycle along the Cardinal Greenway and appears to have pulled out in front of an oncoming vehicle.

Delaware County sheriff's office investigator David Spence II said Tuesday morning that his department had concluded the investigation into the car-bicycle crash and was waiting on family to be notified.

The death of Truly Stines, 69, is still being investigated.

Her body was located when officials tried to contact her about her brother's death. Hahn said an autopsy will be completed Tuesday. He added, however, that the cause of death will be unknown until the toxicology reports are complete, which will take about four weeks.

According to a company newsletter from 2010, Rodney Stines retired from American Electric Power after working there for 44 years. Additionally, Truly Stines worked at Ball State University in the English Department, according to previous Star Press reports.

Contact reporter Rachel Pyle at (765) 213-5845. Follow her on Twitter at @RachelPyleTSP