A 40‑year‑old Ohio native who had been spiraling into paranoia and substance abuse before a fatal police shooting was memorialized in an obituary that highlighted only the most flattering aspects of his life.
Christopher Lindner, the son of prominent businessman Carl Lindner III, was remembered as a “devoted husband,” and “loving father” after police chased him at a family home in Adams County on Nov. 14. He was shot during a high‑speed pursuit that began after he allegedly threatened construction workers with a knife.
The obituary went on to describe him as a man who “loved the Lord Christ Jesus first, adored his wife deeply, and lived his life as an example of integrity, kindness, and generosity.” It recalled his weekends spent surrounded by nature with his family and praised the warmth and enthusiasm he brought into every room.
Court records obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer show that Lindner had long struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and that his behavior had become increasingly menacing. His wife, Tabitha Lindner, had warned authorities only two weeks before the shooting about his rapidly deteriorating mental state, filing a protective order that cited the escalating crisis.
In those filings she detailed how Christopher had been “talking to people who didn’t exist” and was “preparing people for battle,” amassing a large collection of rifles and other firearms for a so‑called “end of the world” narrative. “He appears to believe he is in a battle and being directed by God,” Tabitha said. “I am afraid of what he might do with his guns.”
A 2019 incident, recorded by the courts, saw Lindner photographed pointing a handgun at his wife. Court documents indicate that, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, he had threatened Tabitha and their children, and he eventually agreed to seek rehab, leading to the dismissal of the case.
Later records demonstrate that the abuse continued. During a 2024 trip to Disney, Lindner allegedly became “extremely paranoid,” making threats that could hurt Tabitha and others around him.
After a period of separation, Lindner promised to stop his substance use and moved back in early 2025. That October, Tabitha discovered several THC vape pens she believed he had purchased and confronted him. According to court filings, he told her he was a “living radio,” and was “supposed to help bring about the rapture.”
He was then taken to a detox program at an estate in Adams County, but security footage later captured him armed with a handgun, pacing the grounds and continuing to shout at invisible intruders, as her testimony claimed.
On Oct. 8, Tabitha successfully obtained a civil protection order, which required Lindner to surrender all firearms. The initial family statement stated that the Lindners had previously acknowledged Christopher’s mental health struggles.
In a later message to the media, the family expressed deep sorrow over his death, describing Christopher as a loving, kind, Christ‑following husband and father of four who had suffered from mental illness, and thanked the community for its prayers and condolences.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
