Mother, Baby Killed in Bathtub

A 25-year-old registered nurse and her 5-month-old daughter were killed in a freak accident last night when an electric hair-styling comb fell into the bathtub while they were bathing.

Linda L. McClure and her daughter, Michele Lynn, were shocked fatally when the hair dryer made contact with the water in the bathroom of their home at 1313 Oakwood Trail.

Detective Lt. Donald Okey, of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department said the accident occurred about 8 o’clock. According to Okey, the comb was found in the bottom of the tub. It was plugged into an extension cord which in turn was plugged into an outlet in the bathroom vanity.

He said the bodies were found by Mrs. McClure’s husband, Glenn, 24. McClure told Okey he had been playing his guitar and listening to tape recordings before going to the bathroom to check on his wife and daughter. He found them in the tub.

Mrs. McClure, a registered nurse, was employed at the West 10^th Street Veterans Hospital where her husband is an x-ray technician.

The couple bought the home on Oakwood Trail just south of Delaware Trail School about two months ago.

The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN) – Wednesday, May 15, 1974

Funeral services have been scheduled for Mrs. Glen (Linda) McClure, 25, and her 5 1/2 month old daughter, Michelle, of Indianapolis, Ind. who were electrocuted in a tragic accident at their home on Tuesday, May 14, 1974.

Mrs. McClure was a registered nurse and was formerly employed at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Beulah Schwartz Brewer of Rt 1, Olney and granddaughter of Lyman Brewer, Olney and Mrs. Eva Schwartz of Olney and daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McClure of Olney.

Indianapolis police report that Mrs. McClure and her daughter were shocked fatally when an electric com-hair dryer fell into the tub in which the two were bathing and made contact with the water. The dryer was connected to an extension cord which in turn was plugged into an outlet in a vanity.

The bodies were discovered by Mrs. McClure's husband, also an Olney native. The dryer was found in the bottom of the tub, police stated.

Services at Zirkle Funeral Home with the Rev. Lowell McDowell officiating and burial in Ebenezer Cemetery.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) -  May 16, 1974