Carpenter, Lorinda Kay (1968-1988)

CARPENTER, STEMSRUD

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 5/14/2015 at 11:36:42

Daily Freeman Journal, Wednesday, April 13, 1988

Former resident found after burning self to death

GRIMES — A 20-year-old woman who apparently took her own life by dumping gasoline on herself then igniting it with a lighter Monday evening has been identified as a former Webster City resident.

Lorinda Kay Carpenter of Norwalk suffered major burns and was declared dead at the scene by Polk County Medical Examiner Dr. R.C. Wooters.

Carpenter graduated from Webster City High School in 1986 and attended Iowa Central Community College in Webster City for one year before moving to Norwalk and taking a job with a Des Moines florist last October.

Authorities said Carpenter apparently parked her car on the shoulder of Northwest Townsend Drive near Grimes, took a two-pound coffee can of gasoline from the car and sat down in the middle of the road. She poured the gas on herself then ignited it with a lighter.

A suicide note and a bouquet of white roses were left in her nearby car.

A passing motorist reported a possible car fire and a body lying next to the car at about 10 p.m. Monday, according to Sgt. Chuck Collins of the Polk County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators say they don't know how much time passed between the time the woman set herself on fire and the motorist came upon the scene.

Investigators searched the area to make sure Carpenter was alone, and Collins said that "All the indications are that the young lady's death was a suicide."

Services for Carpenter will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Webster City.

Lorinda Kay Carpenter, 20, of Norwalk, a former Webster City resident, died Monday, April 11.

Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 at the Church of Christ with Tim Worstell officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Friends may call at the Foster Funeral Home until the time of the service.

Lorinda Kay Carpenter, daughter of Albert and Donna Stemsrud Carpenter, was born Jan. 10, 1968 at Webster City. She graduated from Webster City High School in 1986 and attended Iowa Central Community College for one year. She was employed at Nielsen's Greenhouse and Flowers of Des Moines.

Survivors are her parents; three brothers, Kevin of Norwalk, Keith of Webster City, Chris of Norfolk, Neb.; grandparents Clinton and Ruth Stemsrud and Faye Carpenter, all of Webster City; three nephews and one niece.

She was preceded in death by a grandmother and one brother, Brian, who died in May of 1982.

Ms. Carpenter was a member of the Westside Church of Christ in Des Moines and a former member of the Webster City Church of Christ. She had taught Sunday School in both churches.

She was also a member of the New Way Centers.