James R. Rothenbusch, 52, of Middletown is facing felony charges of corrupting another with drugs, specific to a pregnant woman; tampering with evidence; gross abuse of a corpse; trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs.
Rothenbusch is also facing misdemeanor charges of failure to report a crime or death and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ricky J. Sheppard, 47, of Middletown was charged with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, both felonies.
Jackson Twp. police, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Middletown police released additional information about the investigation during a press conference Thursday.
The investigation began around 7:47 p.m. Sunday, when Jackson Twp. police responded to a report of a deceased woman found inside a plastic tote on Fort Anthony Road near Manning Road.
People walking along the road reported there was a cooler with a bad smell, said Jackson Twp. Police Chief Mark Bruner.
German Twp. officers initially responded because Jackson Twp. crews were at another scene, the chief said.
They located a large, plastic storage tote, removed the lid and found a deceased woman, later identified as Fuhr-Storms, wrapped in towels and a tarp, Bruner said.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was requested to respond. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office also was called to the scene.
An autopsy determined Fuhr-Storms was pregnant, according to the sheriff’s office. Her unborn child did not survive.
The investigation led the sheriff’s office to Fuhr-Storms’ last known address in Franklin. Additional information learned there resulted in the sheriff’s office contacting Middletown police, and a joint investigation began.
It was determined Fuhr-Storms died under suspicious circumstances at a house in the 2000 block of Logan Avenue in Middletown, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Jeremy Roy said.
Two men reportedly left her body in the shower for days before putting her in a plastic tote and leaving her in Jackson Twp.
On Wednesday, Middletown police and the sheriff’s office served a search warrant at the Logan Avenue home, Rothenbusch’s residence.
A Rothenbusch was detained at the scene and investigators collected narcotics and other drug paraphernalia, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators reportedly found items related to the death investigation, resulting in a second warrant.
During an interview, Rothenbusch admitted to drug trafficking and said Fuhr-Storms died at his home under suspicious circumstances, according to the sheriff’s office.
He allegedly kept her body in the home for around four days.
Rothenbusch was then arrested, and the second suspect, Sheppard, was found on Baltimore Street in Middletown.
Middletown Police Deputy Chief Ryan Morgan said Sheppard tried to flee, but was quickly apprehended.
Sheppard said Fuhr-Storms died from an alleged drug overdose and was in the house for approximately a week before her body was removed, Morgan said.
The coroner’s office has not determined Fuhr-Storms’ cause and manner of death.
Both men were reportedly aware Fuhr-Storms was pregnant.
Roy praised the collaborative work between investigators across multiple law enforcement agencies in the region.
“Everybody dropped everything, as they should when you find out that a mother-to-be was just dumped on the side of the road,” he said. “You don’t always get that cooperation all the time around the U.S. and in Ohio, but in this case you kind of have to tip your hat.”
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