Man told police he and his accompIice kept the body of a woman carrying a chiId in the bathroom for days after she died of drug-related causes, then placed it in a pIastic box and disposed of it: DA

Ohio – According to Ohio authorities, two men were taken into custody after an investigation connected them to the death of a young prgnant woman earlier this month. Ohio authorities charged both men, J. Rohenbusch and R. Shepard, with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, following discovery of the woman’s, 28-year-old Britany, body inside a sealed plastic tote on a quiet ruraI road in Ohio.

The case began when passerby reported a fouI odor coming from a Iarge plastic box at the beginning of this month. When officers opened the container, they found the body of the woman wrapped in towels and a tarp. An autopsy confirmed that she was pregnant at the time of her death, and her unborn child had also died.

Investigators quickly launched an inquiry involving the local police department, the Sheriff’s Office and the coroner’s office. The investigation traced the victim’s last known address, which led law enforcement to the suspect’s residence in Ohio.

On August 6, police executed a narcotics search warrant at the suspect’s home. Inside, they found narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and items related to the death investigation, including a suspected bloodstain, a blue tarp, screws, and towels matching those used to wrap the victim.

During his interview with investigators, one of them admitted that the victim had died under suspicious circumstances in his home and that he had kept her body there for approximately four days before placing it in the tote and disposing of it. During questioning, Shepard told police that the woman had died from a suspected drug overdose and that her body remained in the home for about a week before it was moved.

Both men told authorities that they were aware the woman was pregnant. Rohenbusch now faces multiple charges, including corrupting another with drugs (specific to a pregnant woman), drug trafficking, drug possession, possession of paraphernalia, failure to report a crime or death, tampering with evidence, and gross abuse of a corpse. Shepard faces felony charges for gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

Ohio authorities have not yet determined the woman’s official cause or manner of death. The Coroner’s Office continues to investigate alongside the Division of Police.

Featured Image – 28-year-old Britany | J. Rohenbusch