West Portsmouth man charged with aggravated murder

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman reports that his 911 communication center received a call Thursday, Jan. 11 at 11:55 a.m. from a woman claiming that she just found her daughter deceased, covered in blood, on the floor of her friend’s home.

The 911 communication officer instructed the caller to go outside for her safety. Within minutes, deputies and detectives arrived and were able to locate and detain a male subject who was inside the house.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that detectives interviewed several witnesses, including the man who was found inside the residence. That man has been identified as being a friend of the victim’s mother for the last 30 years, and he was arrested without incident.

Sheriff Thoroughman’s office contacted the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist in the processing of the crime scene.

The victim has been identified as a 40-year-old woman from West Portsmouth. Her body has been sent to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy.

Arrested was Danny Vanhoose, 73, of West Portsmouth. Vanhoose has been charged with aggravated murder, a felony of the first degree.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that could result in more charges at a later date. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.