Staff Report

Christina Marie Mendoza

ROCHESTER — An affidavit of probable cause provides more details in a Fulton County case involving the death of a 21-year-old woman.

Christina Marie Mendoza, 27, 9163 W. 700N, Culver, is charged with aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; and involuntary manslaughter, a level 5 felony.

On Aug. 30, Fulton County emergency personnel responded to a Culver residence regarding an unconscious person that was not breathing. Lifesaving efforts were attempted by household members and emergency personnel; however, the person was pronounced dead at the residence.

According to court documents, the victim was identified as Cheyenne P. Ruttschaw, 21. Fulton County Sheriff’s officers arrived at the scene noticed Ruttschaw had many injuries in various stages of healing, including a swollen and possibly sprained ankle, black eyes, and several cuts and abrasions.

One of the residents at the scene said Ruttschaw comes and goes frequently and had been staying at the home since Christmas. The resident said Ruttschaw would leave for a few days, then come back for a few days; he said those in the home never knew when she would leave, where she went, who she was with or when she would return.

During Ruttschaw’s autopsy, a forensic pathologist determined that Ruttschaw’s injuries were not self-inflicted. The pathologist also found a foreign object in Ruttschaw’s throat. On Oct. 12, the pathologist determined Ruttschaw’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide.

On Oct. 26, Mendoza was interviewed by officers about Ruttschaw’s death. Court documents state Ruttschaw was Mendoza’s roommate.

Mendoza told officers that on Aug. 30, Ruttschaw came home with bruises and wasn’t acting like her normal self. She said Ruttschaw did not want to talk about the bruises and went to take a shower.

At first, Mendoza said that after a shower, Ruttschaw fell down a set of stairs and died. Later in the interview, Mendoza said she got into a verbal argument with Ruttschaw. She told officers that Ruttschaw had confided in her about a man beating her and asked her not to tell anyone. Mendoza said the verbal argument began because she was angry Ruttschaw kept going back to the man.

Mendoza admitted that the night Ruttschaw fell down the stairs, they had been in an argument. When Ruttschaw said she was going back to the man, Mendoza lost her temper. She allegedly said she put her hands on Ruttschaw’s throat and shoved her head into the shower head three times. Mendoza said she believed she hit Ruttschaw’s head hard enough that she would have fallen down the stairs.

Mendoza said she hit Ruttschaw in the head but did not push her down the stairs. Mendoza said she also didn’t know what the object found in Ruttschaw’s throat was or how it got there.

Mendoza was booked in the Fulton County Jail on Oct. 26, with a $50,000 surety bond.

In an Oct. 27 press release, Fulton County Sheriff’s officers stated that additional arrests are possible in this case.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Ruttschaw between Aug. 28 and the early evening of Aug. 30 is encouraged to contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at (574) 223-2819 or the Indiana State Police at (765) 473-6666.