Lake County Coroner Denies Vandalizing Estranged Husband's Property

Only days after former Lake County Coroner Thomas Philpot received an 18-month sentence for federal theft and corruption charges, the county's current coroner stands accused by her estranged husband of vandalizing his home and apartment. Merrilee Frey denies the accusations of her former husband, and Hobart police have closed their investigation of two separate incidents of vandalism where the tires on her husband's car were slashed and a window to his apartment was broken out. The Northwest Indiana Times has the details:

Lake County Coroner Merrilee Frey denies allegations by her estranged husband she has vandalized his apartment and car.

"She denied doing it or having anyone else do it," Hobart police Lt. David Grissom said Tuesday after questioning the coroner about accusations of her involvement in a broken window last month at her estranged husband's residence or damage to his car's tires the prior month . . .

Grissom said police have closed both cases without filing any criminal charges . . .

William Frey, an eye doctor, declined comment Tuesday.

Police said William Frey twice called them to investigate alleged mischief.

He reported to police Jan. 14 an employee at his medical office saw Merrilee Frey inside at a time the office should have been locked. William Frey reported he found the tires of his 2005 Honda Pilot, parked outside his apartment, flattened the same day and suspected Frey's involvement.

Police said Merrilee Frey told them she had entered the office at the advice of her attorney to remove personal belongings from it . . .

In another alleged incident, William Frey told police he was getting out of his apartment's shower Feb. 6 when he heard someone knocking on his back door and heard Merrilee Frey yelling.

William Frey told police he then heard glass breaking and told Merrilee Frey he was going to call police. He told police he saw his estranged wife get into her coroner's office-issued black Ford Explorer and leave the area, police said.

Police said the outer pane of a window was shattered and a 1-gallon paint can was laying below it at William Frey's residence . . .