The Disappearance and Death of Paige Coffey

Paige Coffey went missing on May 7th, 2019. The then-27-year-old was reportedly last seen at the Steelyard Commons shopping center in Cleveland, Ohio. She was never seen or heard from by her loved ones again.

At the time of her disappearance, Paige lived at her grandmother's home in Bratenahl. She was frequently communicating with her family members and friends, and it was not part of her usual behavior patterns to simply stop contacting them. Paige's mother stated that she last saw Paige on April 30th, 2019, when she dropped her off in Oakwood Village to visit her boyfriend. 

Paige and her mother spoke briefly on the phone the following day - and that was reportedly the last time they spoke. Paige's mother reached out via text a few days later but did not get a response. The last confirmed sighting of Paige was at the shopping center on May 7th. 

Paige's mother reached out to her boyfriend after days continued to pass without any word from her. The boyfriend told her mother that he did not know where she was. This seemed hard to believe, as Paige and her boyfriend spent most of their free time together. 

However, Paige's mother did not approve of their relationship, as she felt that her boyfriend was abusive and controlling. It also seemed unusual that the boyfriend had not reached out to the family about Paige being missing. Paige's mother finally filed a missing person's report on May 17th, 2019. 

Nine months after Paige's disappearance, the FBI and Bratenahl police held a press conference to announce a $5000 reward in exchange for information about Paige's whereabouts. During the conference, the police chief stated, "numerous investigative leads have been conducted, but to date nothing has led to the location of Paige. We strongly believe that someone in this community has a vital piece of information that law enforcement needs." 

Paige's boyfriend was never publicly labeled as a suspect in her disappearance. In 2025, he was labeled a person of interest. As years passed without any sign of Paige, her disappearance grew into a cold case. Her loved ones never gave up hope about finding answers. 

In April 2026 - nearly 7 years after Paige's disappearance - a gruesome discovery was made during a clean-up on a vacant property on East 142nd Street in Cleveland. A suspicious garbage bag, containing what appeared to be remains of some sort, was found inside the vacant home. Police were called, and it was confirmed that the remains inside the garbage bag were human. On April 29th, 2026, authorities confirmed that the remains were that of Paige Coffey.

As of today, the cause and manner of Paige's death remain under investigation. However, the fact that her remains were found in a garbage bag makes it seem likely that her death - or at least the disposal of her body - were caused by someone other than herself. 

Any updates will be provided if/when they become available.

Rest in peace, Paige. 

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Sources:
ABC 7
Charley Project
News 5 Cleveland
WKYC

The Murder of India Kinamore

 

India Kinamore was murdered inside her Colerain Township, Ohio home during the early morning hours of March 4th, 2023. Police responded to calls about a shooting shortly after 4:30 AM at India’s apartment on Hidden Meadows Drive. Once inside, they found the 26-year-old woman in her bed, deceased from gunshot wounds.

India was nine months pregnant at the time; March 4th was actually her due date, and she was scheduled to be induced. Her unborn child also did not survive. This day was supposed to be a joyous occasion for India and her family - a day they would hopefully celebrate for years to come. Now, it’s a day that marks tragedy for India’s loved ones.

Two years passed without any arrests for the murder of India and her unborn child. Then, in August 2025, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced that three men had been arrested and charged in connection to the case. Amongst those three men was 30-year-old Kayvon Warren - India’s boyfriend and father of her unborn child. 

Kayvon Warren. (Source: Colerain PD)

According to the prosecution, Warren did not want India to have his child. Not only was he facing financial hardships, but he was also involved with another woman behind India’s back. At some point, Warren reportedly urged India to get an abortion, but it was too late in her pregnancy for her to do so. The prosecution believes that Warren subsequently enlisted his cousin, Robert Ervin, and Ervin’s half-brother, Lamar Morris Suggs, to help take care of his problem by killing India on the day she was due to give birth. 

Ervin and Suggs. (Colerain PD)

It’s believed that Ervin, 20, and Suggs, 22, entered the residence that India and Warren shared shortly before 4:30 AM. Once inside, one of them shot India multiple times, while all three men participated in staging the scene to make it look like a robbery. This ruse eventually became unraveled, resulting in the August 2025 arrests of all three men.

Shortly after their arrests, it was revealed that Warren had requested bereavement leave from his job prior to India’s death. The prosecution stated that this detail “underscores the premeditated nature of the crime.” All three men have been charged with first degree murder.

The cases against Warren, Ervin, and Suggs are all currently pending. All three men have pleaded not guilty.

Sources:
Fox 19
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office
The Independent

Similar cases:

• The Murder of Jade Benning 
• The Murder of Rochelle Stubblefield
• The Disappearance and Presumed Murder of Morgan Martin

The Disappearance of Sacoya Cooper

 

Sacoya Cooper has been missing since August 31st, 2021. The then-33-year-old was last seen driving away from her home in Columbus, Ohio. Sacoya left her residence that evening to go to a nearby corner store. She never returned and has never been seen or heard from again.

Sacoya lived with her partner, Richard Harris, in the Cremeans Park area at the time of her disappearance. According to Harris, Sacoya left their home at 11:30 PM to buy bottled water from the corner store. By all accounts, this was supposed to be a quick errand - so after hours passed without any sign of Sacoya, Harris began to call her phone several times. The calls went unanswered; the phone appeared to be turned off. 

The following morning, Harris contacted Sacoya's friend, Bre Belcher, and asked if she had spent the night at her place. When Bre replied that she also had not seen or heard from Sacoya, the two decided to contact Columbus Police to report Sacoya missing. 

Weeks passed without any sign of Sacoya. Then, in mid-October, the black 2009 Ford Fusion that she was last seen driving was found abandoned in the west side of Columbus. The car did not have its original license plate; it had been replaced with a stolen one. Investigators later announced that, while processing the car, they found evidence that led them to believe that Sacoya was a victim of foul play. Due to the ongoing investigation, detectives have not shared what, exactly, was found.

A year after Sacoya's disappearance, the FBI joined the investigation. A monetary reward of at least $10,000 was offered in exchange for information that could solve Sacoya's case. Investigators noted that they believe there are "witnesses in the community" who know what happened to Sacoya. 

Years have passed since the reward was announced, but Sacoya still remains missing. She is described as a black transgender woman with brown hair and brown eyes, approximately 5'5" and 145 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing black braids and a black and white summer dress.

If you have any information that could help solve the disappearance of Sacoya Cooper, please submit a tip. 

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Sources:
10 TV
Charley Project
The Columbus Dispatch, (2)

FBI
NBC News

The Disappearance and Murder of Katelyn Markham

 

Katelyn Markham was just days shy of turning 22 years-old when she vanished in August 2011. At the time of her disappearance, Katelyn was a student at The Art Institute of Ohio, and she was passionate about her studies. She was also working two jobs and participating in an internship. By all accounts, she was a responsible person and reliable employee. Katelyn's disappearance left both her inner circle and investigators baffled.

After Katelyn was reported missing, it was determined that she was last seen alive by her fiancé, John Carter. On the evening of August 13th, John went over to Katelyn's condo in Fairfield, Ohio after she had finished her day at work. A friend of Katelyn's also came over to hang out with the couple, but she ended up leaving after she sensed tension between Katelyn and John. The friend noticed that Katelyn seemed quiet, which John said was due to magic mushrooms that the two of them had taken. 

According to John, he left Katelyn's condo between 11:00 PM and midnight to go hang out with some friends who were having a bonfire. The couple reportedly continued to text throughout the night. Katelyn sent her final text shortly before 1:00 AM. She was never seen or heard from again. John returned to his own home around 4:00 AM. He sent a "good morning" text to Katelyn shortly before going to sleep until the late afternoon. When he awoke to go to his job at Papa John's, he noticed Katelyn had not responded to the text. John said he continued to call or text her throughout the afternoon, but he never got a response. Worried, he left his job early to go check on Katelyn at her condo. 

John used his own key to enter the residence. When he got there, nothing seemed out of place - except Katelyn's dog, which was found locked in an upstairs bedroom. This was not the usual spot where Katelyn kept her dog. It also appeared that the dog had not been let out at all that day, which was also unusual. Additionally, Katelyn's car was parked in its normal spot outside the home, but Katelyn herself was nowhere to be found. At this point, the worries for Katelyn continued to build.

Soon, John learned that Katelyn's friends and family members had not heard from her either. He also heard that Katelyn had never shown up from her scheduled shift at David's Bridal. Shortly before 8:00 PM, John called police to report Katelyn as missing. The search began shortly thereafter. Over the next few weeks, volunteers passed out fliers, and search teams scoured the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, nothing was found. 

Over time, Katelyn's case went cold. Police followed tips and conducted interviews, but they seemingly got no closer to locating her. Then, on April 7th, 2013, human remains were found at Big Cedar Creek in Cedar Grove, Indiana - located approximately 30 miles from Katelyn's condo. A couple was searching for scrap metal in the area when they spotted what looked like a human jaw wrapped in a grocery bag. 

Police were called, and a search of the area resulted in the discovery of more remains. Dental records later confirmed that the remains belong to Katelyn Markham. To this day, Katelyn's cause of death has never been determined - but it was clear that somebody had taken her life. 

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Who killed Katelyn?

Katelyn's family members were inevitably devastated when they learned that Katelyn had been a victim of homicide - but they were also not incredibly surprised by the news. When she was first missing, Katelyn's loved ones clung to hope that she would be found safe. As weeks turned into months without any sign of her, their hopes dwindled. Eventually, Katelyn's family came to believe that Katelyn had been murdered. Once those beliefs were confirmed in April 2013, many questions still remained. The one key question being: who killed Katelyn? 

Many theories have emerged over the years, but no arrests have ever been in made in the case. Investigators have uncovered a lot of information about Katelyn's life before she was killed. They have also been able to establish a timeline of the events leading up to her disappearance. Both the information and the timeline have led to a few prominent theories.

Who was Katelyn?

Katelyn's loved ones describe her as a kind person who enjoyed making others happy. Her father Dave Markham describes her as warm, outgoing, positive, and energetic. She was always known as reliable, a good student, and a responsible employee. 

In 2011, Katelyn was living a busy life. As previously stated, she was student at the Art Institute of Ohio. Reports say that she was very dedicated to her craft. Katelyn also worked two jobs, one at David's Bridal and another co-op position at her school's bookstore. 

Katelyn was also engaged to a man named John Carter. The two had been together for about six years at the time of Katelyn's disappearance. They had been engaged for one year. 

The relationship.

Katelyn and John did not yet live together, as John lived with his family and Katelyn had her own place in Fairfield. However, John had a key to her condo and frequently spent time there. According to John, he and Katelyn were looking forward to the future. The couple reportedly wanted to move to Colorado after getting married. 

John and Katelyn would frequently text/call each other when they were not together. John said that when Katelyn did not respond to any of his texts on August 14th, 2011, he knew something was off. It was John who called 9-1-1 when he discovered Katelyn to be missing. Some believe he sounds genuinely concerned in the phone call, while others disagree. Audio of the call can be found here.

For nearly a decade, John was not named as a suspect in Katelyn's disappearance and/or murder. There were inevitably people who have always believed he is, in fact, responsible for her death - but it took years for charges to be brought forward. Initial suspicions on John were likely due to some of his actions/words around the time of Katelyn's disappearance. 

When John called 911 to report her missing, the dispatcher asked if he and Katelyn had been having issues in their relationship - to which he responded, "not at all". However, Katelyn's friend Michelle Feist has contradicted this. In fact, Michelle told Crime Watch Daily that Katelyn and John had a pretty heated argument just two days before her disappearance.

According to the Michelle, John and Katelyn got into an argument on August 12th, 2011, over some financial struggles. Despite this, the couple still attended a festival at a local church that evening. By Michelle's account, the argument between John and Katelyn carried over into the event. Eventually, Katelyn got very upset and ended up leaving the festival early. 

It's completely possible that John and Katelyn resolved their spat before she vanished - but, as previously stated, the couple seemed to have some tension the following night as well. A friend visiting the couple at Katelyn's condo decided to leave after she believed the two wanted to be alone. John said that Katelyn was not acting like herself because the couple had taken magic mushrooms.

Many have questioned John's story about the mushrooms. Katelyn arrived home from work approximately 15 minutes before the friend came over. Even if she had taken the mushrooms as soon as she walked through the door, it's very unlikely that she'd be feeling the effects that quickly. Some have questioned if Katelyn even took the mushrooms at all. She had just returned home from a long day of work, she was tired, and it seems unlikely that she'd want to experience the effects of mushrooms if she just wanted to lounge at home.

Another aspect of John's story that some people found odd was the bonfire. John told investigators that he left Katelyn's condo around 11:00 PM on August 13th to meet up with friends. He brought a bag full of documents belonging to Katelyn to burn in the fire. John explained that Katelyn wanted to shred the documents instead of throwing them away, but she did not have a shredder. Instead, John took the documents with the intention of burning them so she would not have to worry about it. 

Some find this to be an odd explanation as to why he destroyed Katelyn's documents, but it also didn't seem like too much of a stretch at first. He told investigators that he often ran errands for Katelyn - so it's possible that he truly was doing her a favor by removing the papers from her home. Still, some have questioned John's alibi in general. A few of the friends John alleged to be with that night have told a different story. In fact, some claim that there was never even a bonfire that night.

Although there was a lot of speculation about John, it appears that investigators eventually began to focus their attention elsewhere. Over the years, John spoke out publicly several times about Katelyn's case, and he continued to deny any involvement in her death.

A potential new lead.

In 2018, a new potential suspect came on the investigator's radar. A man named Michael Strouse had been charged with murdering 23-year-old Ellie Weik in West Chester, Ohio.

Michael Strouse

West Chester is located only an approximate 45-minute drive away from Fairfield, where Katelyn was killed. There were also some similarities between the two cases. The bodies of both Katelyn and Ellie were found in a field. Ellie's cause of death was asphyxiation, and she was found with a plastic bag over her head. While Katelyn's cause of death was undetermined, her skull was also found in a plastic bag.

The one thing that truly made Strouse seem like a viable suspect? He knew Katelyn. Sources say Strouse and John Carter had mutual friends. Several people sent investigators a picture on social media that includes both Strouse and John. 

However, there were many reasons to doubt that Strouse was involved in Katelyn's murder as well. Ellie Weik and Strouse were involved in a romantic relationship at some point prior to Ellie's murder. He had apparently been stalking her for months beforehand. There is no evidence to suggest that Strouse had ever stalked Katelyn, nor is there any physical evidence that connects him to Katelyn's case. 

An update in 2023.

In February of 2023, police announced that they arrested a man named Jonathan Palmerton (35) on perjury charges in relation to Katelyn's case. 

Palmerton is a resident of Fairfield, and he was arrested on February 17th. The arrest came after a search warrant was issued at his home. 

At the time of his arrest, police announced that Palmerton lied in connection to the investigation into Katelyn's disappearance/murder. 

Another 2023 update.

John Carter was finally arrested and charged with 2 counts of felony murder during 2023. At the time of John's arrest, very little details were revealed, but many had suspected that John was involved from the very beginning of the investigation. Many felt this was finally Katelyn's time to get justice. 

After John Carter was charged, the prosecution ultimately decided to drop the charges against John Palmerton. In May 2023, it was reported that Palmerton's trial could cause a conflict if it took place before John Carter's trial. Prosecutor Mike Gsomer explained, "In short, the prosecution has an irreconcilable conflict procedurally and ethically with respect to forcing a trial to go forward, with respect with respect to Mr. Palmerton and forcing him into an uncompromising situation that I created as a result of the grand jury indictment."

A circumstantial case. 

In June 2024, Det. Joe Nerlinger and Sgt. Rob Whitlock of the Butler County told reporters that the case against John Carter was mostly a circumstantial one. Both investigators stated that they believe that the 9-1-1 call that John made to report Katelyn missing was a complete fabrication. Both also believe that John is a psychopath.

Investigators also reportedly found several writings by John around Katelyn's house. The writings and poems were described as "dark" by investigators. They included sentences such as "Deep down, I love her. You want to kill her. But I love her. She must die," and "I slit your wrist with the key to your heart." 

Detective Nerlinger also told reporters that he believes John acted alone when he killed Katelyn, but "he may have had help dismembering her and getting her out to where she was dumped in Indiana."

John Carter takes a plea deal.

That same June 2024 article that John Carter eventually took a plea deal initiated by his defense team. The plea deal allowed John to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter instead of murder; citing that Katelyn died during a misdemeanor assault. The prosecution reported that they feel satisfied that John Carter admitted to being responsible for Katelyn's death. 

However, the involuntary manslaughter conviction allowed John to receive a short sentence. On July 18th, 2024, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison - the maximum amount allowed for the charges he pleaded guilty to. 

Katelyn's family is upset by the sentence. Her father, Dave Markham, spoke at the sentencing, stating "I do not feel three years is justice, not for Katelyn; not for her sister; not for me, her friends or the entire community that has ached and grieved alongside us."

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Sources:
Crime Online
Fox 19

Front Page Detectives

True Crime Daily

WFMJ
WHIO TV
WLWT, (2)

The Disappearance of Kiley Nunn

 

Kiley Nunn has been missing since 2017. The then-39-year-old woman lived in Toledo, Ohio at the time she vanished. An exact date of when Kiley went missing is unknown, as are the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. 

Kiley was reported missing by a cousin on April 11th, 2018. The cousin stated that Kiley had not been seen or heard from in over a year. Investigators in Toledo have continuously appealed to the public for anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward, but years have passed without any sign of her. 

It appears that there is very little information available about Kiley's disappearance. She remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact Ohio Crime Stoppers at Crime Stoppers 419-255-1111.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Newsbreak
WTOL 11

The Disappearance and Murder of Audreona Barnes

 

Audreona Barnes vanished in Cleveland, Ohio on July 30th, 2021. The 18-year-old had aspirations of joining the Army, and on the day of her disappearance, she met up with US Army Recruiters. After their meeting, the recruiters dropped Audreona off at her boyfriend’s apartment in Cleveland. Her family members expected her home that evening, but she never returned home. Audreona’s family members later reported her missing.

Throughout the investigation, police spoke with Audreona’s boyfriend Bennie Washington. Washington is over 20 years older than Audreona, and he was the last known person to have seen her before she vanished. Initially, police did not find any reason to suspect Washington, and it appears that his home was not searched.

Washington was evicted from his residence on March 11th, 2022. Six days later, an employee from a cleaning company was sent to the residence. While clearing out the apartment’s balcony, the employee found the body of a female hidden under a pile of clothes. Police were called, and the body was eventually identified as that of Audreona Barnes. She died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police then began looking for Washington. At some point, police spotted him in a nearby neighborhood, but he ran from the officers and was able to evade arrest. However, he was finally found on March 21, 2022, and charged with Audreona’s murder. 

source:oxygen.com

After his arrest, police announced that they believed Washington shot and killed Audreona before hiding her body outside under the clothes to hasten decomposition. Audreona’s body had been there for months, but apparently no outsiders reported a foul smell or anything else suspicious.

This arrest was not the first time Washington has been in trouble with the law. In 2019, he was accused of raping a 3-year-old girl. In 2010, he reportedly shot and wounded a woman over a $40 cocaine debt. Washington was sentenced to 7 years for that shooting. 

In May of 2023, Washington went to trial for Audreona's murder. He was ultimately found guilty. Audreona's mother Akua Avegnon gave a victim impact statement during Washington's sentencing hearing. Avegnon called Washington out during her statement, saying that he feigned concern over Audreona's whereabouts while knowing she had already been murdered by him. Avegnon also stated that Audreona was pregnant with Washington's baby, and he also feigned concern over their unborn child. 

Washington was sentenced to 38 years in prison. He remains incarcerated today.

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Sources:
Cleveland 19 News
Law & Crime
New York Post
Oxygen

The Disappearance and Murder of Candice Taylor

Candice Taylor vanished at the age of 21 in March 2017. She was reportedly last seen in the northeast side of Columbus, Ohio. Candice’s mother reported her missing on March 17th, 2017. There is very little information on the exact circumstances of her disappearance, however Candice’s mother stated that she continued to receive text messages from Candice’s phone up until June 2017. 

The first text message was sent shortly after Candice was reported missing. The message stated that Candice was pregnant, and she was going to Cincinnati to “clear her head.” The next set of messages were sent during the months of April and May. During those months, Candice’s mother reportedly received messages from Candice’s phone, stating that she wanted “space for a month or two.” 

The last message Candice’s mother received was on June 24th, 2017—Candice’s 22nd birthday. Candice’s mother reportedly sent her a text to wish her a happy birthday, to which she received a response that simply stated “thanks”. At the time the messages were received, Candice’s mother appeared to believe that they were sent by Candice herself—even though Candice had not been seen by any of her family members or friends since March of 2017.

Just days after Candice was reported missing, on March 29th, 2017, a set of human legs were found in a garbage truck at a garbage sorting facility on the northwest side of Columbus. Investigators searched the areas along the garbage truck’s route but did not find any other remains or clues. It took nearly two years to identify who the legs belonged to, but in January 2019, investigators confirmed that the partial remains were that of Candice Taylor.

At the time the partial remains were found, Candice’s mother still believed that her daughter was alive—as she was still receiving text messages from her phone for months after the fact. However, once the human remains were identified, police shifted Candice’s case into a homicide investigation. If Candice has been deceased since March of 2017, it is clear that the text messages that her mother received from Candice’s phone were not from Candice herself. It appears likely that whoever had her phone knows what happened to Candice. The phone has never been located.

Police have not publicly named any suspects or persons of interest in Candice's case. Various sources report that she was living with her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, but it's unclear if he is a suspect. Other than that, very little information about the investigation is available.

The rest of Candice's remains have not been found. Her murder remains unsolved. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Ohio homicide detectives at 614-645-4730.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Ohio Attorney General
Our Black Girls

The Disappearance of Cierra Chapman

 

Cierra Chapman has been missing since December 27th, 2022. The 30-year-old woman was last seen after leaving her ex-boyfriend's apartment in Trotwood, Ohio. Cierra reportedly left the residence in her SRX silver Cadillac SUV and never returned to her own home. She has not been seen or heard from again.

Cierra was reported missing on December 29th, 2022. Her loved ones have maintained that she would not abruptly leave or stop contacting her family members - especially her one-year-old son. Fears for Cierra's safety escalated on January 6th, 2023, when her vehicle was found abandoned in Middletown, Ohio. Middletown is approximately 20 miles away from Trotwood and it is unclear if Cierra has any ties to the area.

According to police, Cierra's purse and other personal items were found inside her car. This raises even more red flags, as it is uncharacteristic of her to leave those items behind. Large searches for Cierra have been conducted, but unfortunately no further sign of her has been found.

Both investigators and Cierra's family members fear that foul play is involved in her disappearance. In fact, Maj. Brian Johns of the Dayton police told reporters that "[Cierra] didn’t go missing by accident. This was a very well-planned out, well-orchestrated incident, and people know. We know that they know, and they know that we know." This statement indicates that investigators may have a person of interest, but at this time, nobody has been publicly named.

The FBI is now involved in the search for Cierra. There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to her whereabouts. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please submit a tip.

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Sources:
FBI
Oxygen
WHIOTV

The Murder of Deandrea Funchess

On the morning of February 15th, 2022, police in Cincinnati received a call about a deceased person inside a residence on West Galbraith Road in Hartwell. When officers went to the home, they found 24-year-old Deandrea Funchess in an unresponsive state. The young woman was pronounced dead on the scene.

Before her untimely death, Deandrea lived in the Hartwell residence with her boyfriend, Mayzio Arnold, and their two children. Deandrea's family members continued to keep in touch with Arnold after Deandrea's passing as they all tried to make sense of her tragic death. Deandrea's family members were told that she died of a drug overdose, but very few other details were revealed at that time. 

For months, Deandrea's grieving family members were left with an explanation for her death that left more questions than answers. Deandrea's mother Bernadette Davis said that she did not believe her daughter died from a drug overdose. Bernadette is quoted telling reporters that "[Mayzio Arnold] told us she died from a drug overdose. Which never sat right with me. From day one, it never made sense to me." 

Although Arnold claimed that drugs were responsible for Deandrea's demise, detectives continued to investigate the case. Throughout their investigation, detectives learned that it was actually violence - not drugs - that caused Deandrea's death. In fact, an autopsy revealed that Deandrea had been beaten so severely that "her spinal column separated from the base of her skull" - leaving her internally decapitated. The evidence that detectives gathered pointed to one person as the culprit: Mayzio Arnold.

On July 13th, 2022, Arnold was arrested and charged with Deandrea's murder. Deandrea's family members are reportedly shocked by the arrest. They had been in contact with Arnold regularly since Deandrea's passing, and they did not know he was ever even a suspect in the case. Deandrea's mother Bernadette said that she did not know of any red flags in her daughter's relationship with Arnold. "As far as I know about him, he seemed to be ok. The kids loved him." Bernadette explained. "They had issues like any other couple, but I’d never in a million years have thought that this would have been the outcome of that situation."

Mayzio Arnold

Arnold's murder charges are pending. Investigators are still asking anyone with additional information on Deandrea's murder to call Hamilton County authorities at 513-352-3542.

-Sources:

Crime Online
People
WXIX Cincinatti

The Murder of Brittany Stykes

 

The evening of August 28th, 2013 was supposed to be a celebratory evening for the family of Brittany Stykes. The 22-year-old woman was due to join her family at their farm in Ripley, Ohio, to celebrate her father's birthday. In the early evening, Brittany and her 14-month-old daughter, Aubree, got into her husband's Jeep to drive to the party. Unfortunately, neither Brittany nor Aubree would make it to their destination that night. 

Shortly before 7:00 PM, a couple driving on Ohio Route 68 saw a Jeep pulled over on the side of the road. When the couple pulled over to inspect the scene, they spotted something horrific. The young woman driving the car, who was later identified as Brittany, had been shot several times. Brittany's infant daughter, Aubree, had also been shot in the head. The frightened couple immediately called Brown County Police to report this gruesome discovery.

Authorities rushed to the area, where they found both Brittany and Aubree suffering from gunshot wounds. Miraculously, Aubree was still alive. She was immediately rushed to the hospital. Tragically, it was too late for Brittany. The young woman, who had suffered gunshot wounds to the arm, neck, and chest, was pronounced dead on the scene. 

Brittany and Aubree were shot in an area located just 3 miles from Brittany's parents' house. Her parents heard the ambulance and police sirens rushing to the scene. Brittany's brother, who was on his way to the party, also noticed the ambulance and police presence on route 68 - so he called his parents to let them know about it. This immediately worried their parents, as they knew Brittany would be taking that route to their house. Brittany's father decided to go to the scene to see it for himself. He was stopped by police, who told him that a young woman and her baby had been shot. Brittany's father immediately knew the victims were his daughter and granddaughter. 

Little Aubree underwent four brain surgeries due to her gunshot wound to the head. She fortunately received proper care and recovered from her injuries. Still, now Aubree was left without her mother. The rest of Brittany's loved ones were also left to deal with their loss. They were also left with several questions - the main questions being: who killed Brittany? Will her killer ever be brought to justice? 

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About Brittany.

While investigating any murder, it is important for detectives to look into the victim's life. Learning about a victim's day-to-day life and the events leading up to their murder can help detectives establish potential suspects, motives, and theories. When detectives looked into Brittany's life, they learned that she was a fairly typical young woman who loved spending time with her family. 

Brittany grew up on her family's farm in Ohio. Brittany loved the farm and would often spend time there with her family - even after she moved out. She enjoyed working on cars with her father, and she also loved interacting with the animals. 

At the time of her death, Brittany was living in her own nearby home with her husband, Shane Stykes, and their daughter Aubree. She was also four months pregnant with her second child. Brittany loved being a mother and was looking forward to having another baby. By all accounts, Brittany seemed like a family-oriented young woman who did not have any known enemies. 

Shane and Brittany with their daughter. 

Brittany's husband.

Brittany's husband, Shane, said he was initially confused when the police showed up at his house on the evening of his wife's murder. He said that he believed Brittany and Aubree were at Brittany's parent's house; he had no clue why the police were at his door at 11:30 PM. However, once police asked him if he was the owner of a yellow Jeep, he immediately knew something was wrong. Brittany had left the house in that Jeep.

Stykes' Jeep

Police inevitably looked into Shane as a suspect. Several other people reportedly felt he was involved as well. Shane is 16 years older than Brittany - making him 38 years-old at the time Brittany was killed, while Brittany was only 22. Such an age gap can often raise red flags. Shane also did not accompany Brittany to the party that evening, leaving some to question if Shane did not get along with Brittany's family. This question became even more prominent when Brittany's parents filed a lawsuit against Shane in December 2013. The lawsuit claimed that Shane was keeping Aubree from them. The lawsuit was short-lived, though, as Brittany's parents dropped it about a month later. 

When questioned by police, Shane told them that he was at a gym at the time Brittany and Aubree were struck by gunfire. Said gym is located an approximate 15-minute drive away from the spot where the shooting occurred. Shane was given a polygraph exam, which he passed. Additionally, police were able to confirm his alibi. Overall, Shane cooperated with the investigation and was eventually cleared as a suspect.

In 2014, Shane told reporters that he knew who killed Brittany. He explained that he had known from the beginning, and he had been "pointing [police] in the right direction from the moment they took him in for questioning." Shane did not publicly identify his suspect in question. He merely said, "it's someone he knows - just not on a personal level."

However, in the same report, Shane also expressed fear that investigators would not solve the case. Even though he had told police exactly what he believes happened, an arrest had still not been made. The report then quotes the police, who disagreed with Shane's assessment of the investigation. They said that they had been working on a prominent theory that they believed would help solve Brittany's murder. Still, police did not elaborate on this theory.

The informant.

In 2015, police revealed that an informant had come forward with information about Brittany's case. The informant was a young woman who said she witnessed the shooting of Brittany. The woman told police that on August 28th, 2013, she was riding in the passenger side of a car belonging to her ex-boyfriend, Tommy Lopez. The couple were at a gas station when they saw Brittany drive past in the yellow Jeep.

Reported surveillance footage of the Jeep (source:browncountycrime.com)

The woman went on to explain that Lopez began following Brittany in his car. She said that Lopez drove behind Brittany for about 25 minutes before the couple plugged in a portable police blue light and turned on the sirens. Brittany, believing that she was being stopped by a police officer, pulled over near Gooselick Road. 

The informant said that she stayed in Lopez's car while Lopez exited the vehicle and approached the Jeep. She explained that she watched as Lopez fired four shots at Brittany's vehicle. He then returned to his own car, and they fled from the scene.

When investigators asked about Lopez's motive, the informant explained that Lopez was a hitman who had been hired to kill Brittany. She explained that Lopez had accepted two payments of $10,000 for this particular hit. The motive, according to the informant, was payback against Brittany's husband Shane. The person who hired Lopez allegedly wanted to get revenge on Shane for not paying drug money that he owed.

At the time the informant came forward in 2015, Lopez was incarcerated in Kentucky on unrelated drug charges. The woman said she was too afraid to come forward prior to Lopez's arrest. Once he was behind bars, she finally decided to speak to police. 

Tommy Lopez

The woman implicated Lopez in not only Brittany's murder, but also two other murders as well. One of the victims was a man who had allegedly sold drugs to an ex-girlfriend of Lopez - who subsequently died of an overdose. The other victim that the informant named was 18-year-old Michaela BrIede, who was killed in her Fort Mitchell, Kentucky home. The informant claimed that Lopez's motive for that murder was robbery. 

Investigating Lopez.

Initially, it appeared that investigators had reasons to believe the informant's story. There was reported surveillance footage of the yellow Jeep that Brittany was driving passing a gas station on the night of the murder. The informant's version of events also seemed to support the evidence that Brittany was the only person who actually got shot. The forensic evidence shows that Aubree was struck in the head by a bullet that had traveled through Brittany's chest. This reveals that the four shots that the informant saw being fired were all aimed at Brittany.

However, there were reasons to doubt the informant's version of events as well. She said that Brittany was killed over a drug debt that her husband Shane owed - but Shane denied being involved with drugs. Just days after Brittany's murder, Shane also told reporters that he was shocked that such a gruesome crime occurred in Ripley. He said that they lived in Ripley to avoid crime. Shane is quoted explaining, "I don't want to be around the drug scene. All my neighbors are very friendly. We're all very close. That's why I don't get this."

Police revealed the informant's account in September 2015. During the months that followed, there were some discrepancies in reports about Lopez's potential involvement in Brittany's murder. In November of 2015, a site called the Brown County Crime Reporter reported that a grand jury was deliberating on whether or not to indict Tommy Lopez for the murder of Brittany Stykes. However, it appears that no other sources posted on these alleged deliberations. The Brown County Crime Reporter also never posted any follow-up on the subject of Brittany's murder. 

No charges filed.

About a month and a half later, in January 2016, the News Democrat reported that Lopez was released from police custody the day after Christmas 2015. The report quoted assistant prosecutor Zac Corbin, who said that Lopez had not yet been cleared of suspicion in Brittany's case, but he also was not yet labeled as a suspect. Corbin also directly contradicted the report from Brown County Crime Reporter, as he stated that they did not yet have enough evidence to utilize a Grand Jury. Corbin explained, "It does us no good for us to run something through a Grand Jury and try to get an indictment when we can’t ultimately go into court and prove beyond a reasonable doubt."

As previously stated, Lopez was incarcerated at the time the Brown County Crime Reporter article was published, but for drug charges that were unrelated to Brittany's case. While Lopez was behind bars, police began to investigate his potential involvement in Brittany's murder. It's possible that the Brown County Crime Reporter was simply confused about Lopez's charges at that time, but it's clear that he has never been charged with anything related to Brittany's case.

Some still suspect that Lopez was involved in Brittany's death, but it appears that these suspicions have dwindled in more recent years. In 2018, Shane Stykes spoke to reporters again, saying that he did not believe that Brittany was pulled over when she was shot.  Shane said that, if Brittany had gotten pulled over, the car would have been at a dead stop and there would not have been any damage to the vehicle. However, the car was damaged in the incident. The front differential of the car had damage consistent with impact. 

Shane then explained that he believed someone had "paced alongside" Brittany in the car and then fired at her. After Brittany was shot, Shane believes that the car then veered into the embankment, causing the vehicular damage. This belief of Shane's once again contradicts the informant's story that Lopez shot Brittany after pulling her over. 

Where the case stands today.

As of 2022, Brittany's murder still remains unsolved. More recent reports have stated that the informant's story was dismissed, but it's unclear if police have officially cleared Lopez as a suspect. Although Shane Stykes said he had been cleared of suspicion, he still feels that people treat him as a suspect. He said that Brittany's parents have pointed the finger at him, and his relationship with them has completely soured. 

There are other people who also still suspect that Shane is responsible Brittany's death. He has since remarried and still continues to deny being involved in Brittany's murder. Early on into the investigation, Shane said he knew who killed Brittany, but the identity of said person has never been revealed. It's unclear if police consider this elusive person to be a person of interest or not. 

There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of Brittany's killer. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact investigators via email at qcarlson@bcoso.us or by calling 937-378-4435.

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Sources:

The Cinemaholic
Fox 19, 2

Medium

News Democrat

WCPO, 2