Who Killed Samantha Guthrie? New Details About The Teen Missing For Three Weeks Found Dead In The Woods
Four people have been arrested in connection to her disappearance.
Facebook An 18-year-old Ohio woman who was missing for three weeks was found dead in the woods with a gunshot wound to her head.
The body of Samantha Guthrie was located Sunday in a secluded area off Rex Hill Road in New Franklin, ABC News reports. She died from a single gunshot wound to the head and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office.
Guthrie was reported missing by her mother on Nov. 5 after she vanished from a home in Akron the day before.
“We are forever grateful for all the love and support through this devastating time,” a Facebook page dedicated to finding the teen posted. “Family can finally start the grieving process and make plans for her memorial.”
The manner of death and location of Guthrie's body match a story three of four people arrested in relation to the teen's disappearance previously told police, according to the Akron Beach Journal.
William Eugene Alexander, 38, Danny Hamby, 38, and Toni Kenney, 31, and Dylan Brown, 19, were with Guthrie at an Akron house on Lillian Street on Nov. 4, the last place she was seen alive. According to Police Lt. Rick Edwards, three of the four cooperated with police and said the missing teen was shot to death and dumped in the woods.
RELATED: Sad New Details About Hania Aguilar, The Missing 13-Year-Old Whose Body May Have Been Found
All but Hamby admitted to loading the woman's dead body into the trunk of a car, drove out to a wooded area, and disposed of her body. Hamby “was instrumental in moving her [Guthrie’s] body from the scene and then refuse[d] to disclose her whereabouts,” one affidavit states.
Summit County Sheriff's Office
The four were arrested prior to the discovery of Guthrie's body and charged with tampering with evidence. Each remains in the Summit County Jail. Police did not release Guthrie's relationship to the individuals arrested in relation to her murder.
Now that Guthrie's body has been found, murder charges are being added to two of the four's records.
Police say they plan to file murder charges against Hamby and Kenney, who were already jailed in relation to Guthrie's disappearance, with her murder with the discovery of Guthrie's body. The pair is believed to have been with Guthrie at the house she was last seen at and allegedly to blame for her death.
“Detectives are not naming which one, Danny Hamby or Toni Keeney, actually fired the shot that killed Samantha Guthrie,” Edwards said. “This is still an active investigation at this time.”
Hamby faces charges of parole violation, probation violation, carrying concealed weapons, improperly handing firearms in a motor vehicle, drug abuse, possession of drug abuse instrument, having weapons while under disability, tampering with evidence, and obstructing justice, jail records showed, according to an affidavit. His bond was set at $3.5 million.
Kenney was charged with carrying concealed weapons, obstructing justice, and tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at $2.1 million. The case is still under investigation.
Sarah Gangraw writes about all things news, entertainment and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.