Sad News for The Family

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - After searching for her for nearly a week, Louisville Metro Police said they have found 50-year-old Diane Tanselle. On the morning of April 8, Tanselle's 1997 Chevy Astro Van was found parked outside the Post Oak Apartment Homes in Lyndon. Her body was found inside.

According to Sgt. Aaron Crowell of LMPD, the Tanselle's van was found by an officer with the Graymoor-Devondale Police Department around 5:30 a.m.

"The vehicle was transported to the Louisville Metro Police auto theft garage where a search warrant was conducted and the body of Diane Tanselle was recovered inside that vehicle," Crowell said.

Crowell believes Tanselle had been dead for days, but did not say how long her van sat abandoned in a parking space. Valentine Bates, a resident of Post Oak Apartment Homes, said she noticed the van for the first time on the night of April 7.

"It just showed up. I assumed someone was visiting 'cause there's nobody in my apartment building that drives a van -nobody," said Bates. "I don't know where it came from. [I don't know] who dropped it off. We didn't see nobody. [I] didn't really think much of it."

While Crowell is keeping many of the details tight-lipped, he said a person passing by the van wouldn't have been able to see Tanselle's body. Crowell said there are a couple of people named as persons of interest, but the only one they are identifying is Thomas Kessinger, Tanselle's business partner.

Kessinger is currently being held in the Clark County, Indiana Jail held on drug charges following a chase that began April 5 at his Lyndon home. LMPD officers had gone to Kessinger's home to talk with him about Tanselle's disappearance and possible drug activity. Tanselle's van was discovered about three blocks from Kessinger's home.

Indiana court documents reveal that investigators found Tanselle's cell phone in Kessinger's backyard and a large amount of suspected blood inside Kessinger's home. While detectives are not saying any more than that, Crowell said he has talked with Tanselle's family.

"This is a difficult time for them," said Crowell. "They've been extremely cooperative in our investigation. Our prayers go out to them."
An autopsy will be performed to determine how Tanselle died. At the current time, Kessinger is not charged in connection with Tanselle's disappearance or her death.

This week has seemed unreal for our family and now comes the trial. Probably The People vs. Thomas Kessinger. Who knows how long it will take.