Background: Brittany Fuhr-Storms (GoFundMe). Insets (top to bottom): James Rothenbusch and Rick Sheppard (Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office).
Authorities in Ohio have arrested two men after the body of a pregnant woman was discovered in a discarded storage tote earlier this month. The woman’s death is being treated as suspicious.
The victim, identified as 28-year-old Brittany Fuhr-Storms, was found on August 3 after police received reports of a deceased individual in Jackson Township, Ohio. Her body was discovered naked and placed inside a storage tote. An autopsy later confirmed that she was pregnant when she died. Police traced her last known location, which led their investigation to a residence in Middletown, Ohio.
Executing a narcotics search warrant at this address resulted in the arrest of two men who claimed to have knowledge of Fuhr-Storms’ fate, according to police.
Speaking at an August 7 press conference about the case, Middletown police explained that Fuhr-Storms’ body had been “wrapped in towels and a tarp” inside what was initially thought to be a cooler. However, Jackson Township Police Chief Mark Bruner corrected this, stating it was a “storage tote” designed for large items such as a Christmas tree. The lid was secured with screws, but authorities managed to open it, subsequently confirming the remains as those of Fuhr-Storms.
The case was turned over to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, leading to the identification and arrest of James Rothenbusch and Rick Sheppard on August 5. During a narcotics-related search at Rothenbusch’s residence, investigators observed items linked to Fuhr-Storms’ death, prompting a further search warrant.
Both Rothenbusch and Sheppard were questioned by police about Fuhr-Storms’ death. Sheppard allegedly told police that she died from an “alleged overdose” and her body remained in the shower for four days before they attempted to hide it. They also reportedly acknowledged being aware of Fuhr-Storms’ pregnancy.
Authorities stated that the coroner has listed Fuhr-Storms’ cause of death as undetermined.
During the press conference, police confirmed that they had been investigating Rothenbusch and Sheppard prior to Fuhr-Storms’ case. Police did not go into detail at the press conference but stated that fentanyl and other drug paraphernalia were seized during their initial search.
Police said that Fuhr-Storms’ case was considered a “suspicious death.” Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Jeremy Roy said, “The fact of the matter is, these gentlemen have some guys in custody that were there at the time she died. That’s a problem. They don’t have any 911 calls, they don’t have anybody going for help. That’s an issue.”
Rothenbusch was charged with five felonies — corrupting another with drugs/specific to a pregnant woman, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, drug trafficking, and drug possession, as well as failure to report a crime or death and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.
Sheppard was charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, both felonies. Both men are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 13.
