Two Arrests After Pregnant Woman Found Dead in Plastic Tote: What We Know
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Authorities arrested two men after the body of 28-year-old Brittany Fuhr-Storms was found inside a plastic tote along Fort Anthony Road in Jackson Township, Ohio.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said an autopsy revealed that Fuhr-Storms was pregnant at the time of her death.
The Context
The sheriff's office announced the arrests in a Facebook post on Thursday. James Rothenbusch was charged with corrupting another with drugs, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, failure to report crime or death and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rick Sheppard was charged with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
The case prompted coordination between multiple agencies, including the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Jackson Township Police, Franklin Division of Police and Middletown Division of Police.
James Rothenbusch (left) and Rick Sheppard (right) were arrested on multiple charges after a pregnant woman was found dead along an Ohio roadway.
James Rothenbusch (left) and Rick Sheppard (right) were arrested on multiple charges after a pregnant woman was found dead along an Ohio roadway.
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
What To Know
The Jackson Township Police Department was dispatched at approximately 7:47 p.m. on August 3 to Fort Anthony Road for a report of a deceased person. Officers located an adult female inside a plastic tote discovered by people walking along the roadway.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office's Special Investigation Unit and Evidence Technicians responded to the scene. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office took custody of the remains.
The victim was later identified as Fuhr-Storms.
The Middletown Division of Police and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office executed a narcotics search warrant at the residence of Rothenbusch on Wednesday.
The sheriff's office said officials recovered narcotics and other drug paraphernalia. Rothenbusch was detained at the scene.
Officials also observed items related to the death investigation, which prompted a secondary search warrant, the sheriff's office said.
During an interview, Rothenbusch stated that Fuhr-Storms died in his home under suspicious circumstances, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. He allegedly admitted to keeping her body in the home for approximately four days before it was disposed.
The sheriff's office said he also admitted to drug trafficking.
Authorities located Sheppard on Baltimore Street in Middletown. During questioning, Sheppard allegedly told officials that Fuhr-Storms died in the home and her body remained there for nearly a week.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said both Rothenbusch and Sheppard admitted that they were aware of Fuhr-Storms' pregnancy.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for a memorial service.
What People Are Saying
Joria Isaacs, family member, posted on GoFundMe: "My husband's twin sister Brittany Fuhr-Storms and her beautiful baby she was pregnant with were sadly found deceased recently in Dayton, Ohio. She was very loved by her family. This was very unexpected news to everyone."
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office chief of staff Jeremy Roy, at a press conference: "Everybody dropped everything as they should when you find out that a mother-to-be was just dumped on the side of the road...You don't always get that cooperation all the time around the United States and in Ohio, but in this case, you've got to kind of tip your hat."
What Happens Next
The Middletown Division of Police has taken over the investigation. A court hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday for both Rothenbusch and Sheppard, according to court records.
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