Published: August 08, 2009 11:43 pm         

Officials: Lee Alan Bryant employee shot coworker, killed self

Parke County officials have termed Friday’s shooting at the Lee Alan Bryan health care facility a drug-related “murder-suicide.”

According to a news release issued by the Parke County Sheriff’s Department on Saturday afternoon, deputies responded to a call at 4:08 p.m. Friday reporting the “possible suicide of an employee in the boiler room of the facility.”

Officers on the scene reported finding Ryan J. Clark, 27, of Mecca, dead with “a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.”

Clark’s coworker, Kenneth A. Godfrey, 30, of Rockville, was also reported missing, but was found dead on the floor, near a work bench, in a nearby maintenance building. He reportedly had one gunshot wound in the chest.

According to the report, investigators believe Clark went into the maintenance building, shot Godfrey, then went back to the boiler room, where he took his own life. The report also mentions “a dispute between the two,” although no further details are given. Parke County Sheriff Michael Eslinger could not be reached for comment Saturday.

A toxicology report has indicated that Clark had benzodiazapam and marijuana in his system.

The Lee Alan Bryant health care facility is about three miles east of Rockville on U.S. 36.

Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.