Coroner to discuss developments in case of woman found buried with a rose in 2018
Saturday will mark seven years since a woman was found buried in a shallow grave in North Avondale. She was wrapped in a sheet and had a long-stemmed rose on her chest.
Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco and her team have made multiple pleas to the public in an attempt to identify her with little progress.
However, Sammarco announced she will be discussing developments in the case during a May 27 press conference.
Back in 2018, children spotted a portion of her body exposed in the 400 block of Glenwood Avenue at Alston Park apartments.
The coroner said she had been buried for some time and her body was decomposing.
She was found wearing a tank top, a Smoky Mountain Moonshine T-shirt and a sweater along with loose pants when she was found. Earrings and black rope bracelets were found on her body.
Though the cause of death was not determined, Sammarco never suspected foul play.
"They didn't have to bury her. They didn't have to leave a rose behind. Clearly, it was someone who cared about her," Sammarco said.
Investigators recovered DNA, determined she had cocaine and morphine in her system and reconstructed what she may have looked like using a 3D scan of her skull.
This gave investigators a face, even though they still lacked a name.
In 2023, new digital facial reconstruction images were released with the help of the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Ohio State University.
Sammarco will hold a press conference at 1 p.m.
The Enquirer will update this story.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Coroner to discuss developments in case of woman buried with a rose
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Snarky fashion influencer who regularly mocks Trump, Vance's outfits admits he's in US illegally, DHS responds
A snarky fashion influencer who regularly mocks President Trump's outfits has posted a now-viral confessional about being in the US illegally — with the Department of Homeland Security signaling it is aware and zeroing in on the critic. Derek Guy disclosed his 'lack of legal immigration' in an X post seen nearly 5 million times as he criticized the Trump administration's deportation crackdown. The fashion enthusiast, who boasts millions of followers on Instagram and X, admitted he came to the US as a baby — via Canada — after his parents fled Vietnam following the Tet Offensive. 5 Trump and Vance walk to welcome Ohio State University NCAA champs. REUTERS 5 Derek Green, a prominent critic on X, reveals he's in the US illegally. 'I'm still unsure whether we technically broke an immigration law. The border between Canada and the United States was pretty porous (as it is today, for the most part). But either way, since I came here without legal documentation, I eventually fell into the category of being an undocumented immigrant,' he wrote. 5 Derek Guy posts a lengthy tweet about his citizenship. 'The lack of legal immigration has totally shaped my life. It has made every interaction with the law much scarier. It has shaped which opportunities I could or could not get. It has taken an emotional toll, as this legal issue hangs over your head like a black cloud.' His lengthy post quickly attracted DHS' attention — with the department responding by posting a cryptic 'Spy Kids' GIF of a pair of covert glasses zooming in. 5 The Department of Homeland Security responded with a cryptic post this week after fashion critic Derek Guy admitted he's in the US illegally. That post has been seen 20 million times by Wednesday morning. Vice President JD Vance — another regular target of the fashion influencer — also chimed in after scores of people started suggesting he should take revenge and deport him. 5 JD Vance responds to Derek Guy admitting he's in the US illegally. Vance fired back with a meme of actor Jack Nicholson grinning and shaking his head — a move many interpreted as a sign the veep wanted to boot him from the country. Guy claimed to be unconcerned, however — replying with a pic of Vance in a tight suit while writing: 'I think i can outrun you in these clothes.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Police chief blames state, doesn't address rise of violent crime in clip after OTR killing
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge placed the blame for the fatal stabbing of an Over-the-Rhine man on the state for not telling them the accused killer, on probation, had broken off his ankle monitor months earlier. Theetge said in a video released the evening of June 10 that her officers must be able to trust the people they arrest will be prosecuted and held accountable after they are released. It's the first public comment by the chief since the killing of 46-year-old Patrick Heringer on June 4. Through her spokesman, Theetge has declined multiple requests for an interview with The Enquirer this past week. The killing shocked the city and raised fears about crime and public safety, particularly in Heringer's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Police say Heringer was fatally stabbed inside his East McMicken Avenue home by 38-year-old Mordecia Black, a recently released convicted felon who is now facing charges of murder and aggravated burglary. Black, prosecutors said at his arraignment, was released from prison on probation with an ankle monitor in January. He cut off his ankle monitor a month later and has been on the run since. Theetge and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said city police were never notified when Black cut off his ankle monitor. More: Mayor meets with wife of slain OTR man, says suspect 'should not have been walking free' "Law enforcement is only one part of the public safety puzzle," Theetge said in the video statement. "When we arrest and charge violent offenders, there must be clear policies and procedures in place to manage their reintegration into society, and to ensure they are held accountable to the conditions of their post-release supervision." JoEllen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, said the state lost track of Black after he was released, Enquirer media partner Fox 19 reports. The Enquirer has reached out to the agency for more information about how that could happen. The mayor echoed much of what the chief said earlier, telling The Enquirer in a statement he is ready to help "champion needed reforms at the state level." In the video, Theetge also read the names of five homicide victims who have been killed within the past two weeks: Treasure Thomas, Laura Schueler, Jayshaun Cornelius, Jevon Kirk and Heringer. "The truth is painful. We do not have a crystal ball. We cannot always predict when or where violence will strike," Theetge said. "What we can do and will do is continue to serve as a barrier between good and evil." The second-year chief called for more officers, referencing a rising number of retirements to the roughly 1,000-person force. She touched on an uptick in certain property crimes, but did not address the state of violent crime in the city. More: Cincinnati sees uptick in violent crime in 2025; all crime up in Over-the-Rhine A review of city data by The Enquirer shows there have been more violent crimes citywide so far this year than in most recent years, according to year-to-date data since 2021. Only 2024 was higher. City data shows there have been 778 violent crime incidents so far this year. On average, over the past four years, there were 732 violent crimes year-to-date. Homicides and shootings are both down citywide. Fatal and nonfatal shootings are down by about 25% compared to the same time last year and are lower than they've been since at least 2022. Homicides, including stabbings, are down about 15% and are at the lowest levels they've been at since at least 2021. Ahead of their respective public statements on June 10, Theetge and Pureval both met privately with Heringer's wife, Sarah Heringer. In a letter she read to a Local12 reporter, Sarah said she watched her husband bleed out in front of her. More: Mayor meets with wife of slain OTR man, says suspect 'should not have been walking free' Pureval wouldn't discuss details of the meeting with Sarah Heringer but, in a statement, said the man accused of the crime "should not have been walking free." In a Facebook post after the meeting, Sarah Heringer said she wants to know why there was "no system connecting the parole board with local law enforcement." 'I told him directly: that is something I hold him accountable for,' Sarah Heringer wrote on Facebook. 'I also told him he needs to find out what other holes exist in his system before another family pays the price. He agreed to do that.' She vowed that she will work with the city on reforming the system and sharing the results with the public "every step of the way." Sarah Heringer said she wants to make sure this doesn't happen again to someone else. Enquirer reporter Scott Wartman contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Police Chief blames state for Over-the-Rhine man's killing
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Stinging, invasive Asian needle ants are in Ohio. Here's where, why they're a problem
A species of invasive stinging ants is on the rise as they hit peak season in the summer. Asian needle ants deliver a painful and venomous sting capable of causing allergic or even life-threatening reactions. Native to Asia, the insects are known as Brachyponera chinensis (roughly translated as "short, wicked ant from China") and have since spread to the U.S. with documented sightings in 20 states, including Ohio. While tiny, the ants can also infest homes and disrupt natural environments by excluding native ant species and termites. Asian needle ants reach their yearly peak activity in June and July. Here's what to know before they arrive. Asian needle ants are a species of carnivorous ants native to China, Japan and the Koreas, according to USA TODAY. These dark brown ants have been found to live in colonies in leaf litter and rotted logs but can also be found inside potted plants, underneath wood piles, and in lawns. The "needle" part of its name refers to its stinger. While they are difficult to track, Asian needle ants have been found in Ohio with at least four reported sightings, per More than a dozen other states have reported Asian needle ant sightings. Ohio State University's Buckeye Yard and Garden confirmed the non-native stinging ant species in Southwest Ohio. The ants can nest inside landscape mulch, compost bins, homes, kitchens and dumpsters. No. Unlike fire ants, Asian needle ants are smaller, less aggressive and will try to avoid humans, however, most stings occur when someone accidentally places their hands in nests or on the ants, according to NC State University Entomology. The pressure causes them to deliver a defensive sting that can last for hours or even days. Experts recommend wearing thick gloves when handling outdoor items like mulch to help prevent stings. Eliminating nesting sites is also advised, including reducing moisture-heavy areas in and around your home and sealing entry points, according to Orkin. Should you encounter a colony of Asian needle ants, protein-based insecticide baits can also be used, though the method isn't foolproof. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Asian needle ant stings can include the following symptoms: Skin reactions include hives, itching, and flushed or pale skin. Low blood pressure (hypotension). Constriction of the airway, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Swollen tongue or throat. Weak and rapid pulse. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Dizziness or fainting. Psychological symptoms, such as a feeling of impending doom. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Stinging Asian needle ants found in Ohio. Here's why it's a problem
