Mother, boyfriend charged in 'suspicious' death case
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
On May 30 at 11:53 p.m., the Hillsboro Police Department received a report of a suspicious death of a 1-year-old child, according to a press release from the Hillsboro Police Department.
There was also concern for the welfare of two other children in the home.
The address for the children was in Richmond, Ky. The mother of the children was Whitney Johnson, and her boyfriend was Nathan Ritze. The caller also advised that there was a warrant for Ritze. The Richmond, Ky. Police Department was contacted for assistance in this matter.
When the Richmond Police Department went to the residence, the two children were located. It is believed Ritze fled the home. The mother was located at her workplace. Johnson was taken to the Richmond Police Department for an interview. Ritze was later apprehended.
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Through interviews, a Diven Road location was obtained to look for the body of the 1-year-old child.
The Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation were contacted for assistance. The two children were taken into custody by Kentucky Children Services.
The remains of a small child were found in a wooded area off of Diven Road. This incident is still under investigation.
"I was called that they'd found the body a little before 5 p.m. today," Highland County Coroner Jeff Beery said.
Dr. Beery called the situation "very suspicious."
Dr. Beery told The Highland County Press that the 1-year-old's body was released to the forensic pathologists at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.
Ritze, 25, of Richmond, Ky. is being held in Kentucky awaiting extradition on charges of abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
Johnson, 26, of Richmond, Ky. is being held in Kentucky awaiting extradition on charges of abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
Highland County Police Chief Nick Thompson said that Johnson and Ritze "had lived at [a Hillsboro apartment complex] for just a short period of time, then left."
Thompson said that local investigation is ongoing.
"I hope that people keep the family and the first responders in their thoughts and prayers," Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told The Highland County Press. "Any time you have a child fatality, it's a really tough situation."
"I think the deputies, police and BCI did an outstanding job," Dr. Beery said.
There was also concern for the welfare of two other children in the home.
The address for the children was in Richmond, Ky. The mother of the children was Whitney Johnson, and her boyfriend was Nathan Ritze. The caller also advised that there was a warrant for Ritze. The Richmond, Ky. Police Department was contacted for assistance in this matter.
When the Richmond Police Department went to the residence, the two children were located. It is believed Ritze fled the home. The mother was located at her workplace. Johnson was taken to the Richmond Police Department for an interview. Ritze was later apprehended.
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Through interviews, a Diven Road location was obtained to look for the body of the 1-year-old child.
The Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation were contacted for assistance. The two children were taken into custody by Kentucky Children Services.
The remains of a small child were found in a wooded area off of Diven Road. This incident is still under investigation.
"I was called that they'd found the body a little before 5 p.m. today," Highland County Coroner Jeff Beery said.
Dr. Beery called the situation "very suspicious."
Dr. Beery told The Highland County Press that the 1-year-old's body was released to the forensic pathologists at the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.
Ritze, 25, of Richmond, Ky. is being held in Kentucky awaiting extradition on charges of abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
Johnson, 26, of Richmond, Ky. is being held in Kentucky awaiting extradition on charges of abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree, and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
Highland County Police Chief Nick Thompson said that Johnson and Ritze "had lived at [a Hillsboro apartment complex] for just a short period of time, then left."
Thompson said that local investigation is ongoing.
"I hope that people keep the family and the first responders in their thoughts and prayers," Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told The Highland County Press. "Any time you have a child fatality, it's a really tough situation."
"I think the deputies, police and BCI did an outstanding job," Dr. Beery said.