Man Receives Sentence for Disturbing Crime Involving Pregnant Woman’s Death

An Ohio man, part of a trio accused of concealing the death of a pregnant woman, has been handed a prison sentence.

James Rothenbusch, aged 52, admitted guilt to complicity in tampering with evidence linked to the demise of 28-year-old Brittany Fuhr-Storms. On Thursday, a judge sentenced him to 30 months behind bars for his role in the crime. The case came to light on August 3, 2025, when Fuhr-Storms’ body was discovered in a storage tote in a wooded area. Authorities have indicated that she died from an “alleged overdose” while pregnant.

Rothenbusch faced charges alongside Rick Sheppard, 47, and Walter Wade, 44, who are both slated to stand trial next month. Officials stated that the men did not report Fuhr-Storms’ death after she passed away in a Middletown, Ohio, residence linked to Rothenbusch and Sheppard.

According to earlier reports from Law&Crime, Sheppard revealed to police that he and Rothenbusch kept Fuhr-Storms’ body in the home’s bathtub for four days post-mortem. Her body, found unclothed, was wrapped in towels and a tarp, then placed in a plastic storage tote, which was secured with screws. The tote was later abandoned in a nearby wooded area in Montgomery County.

During sentencing, Rothenbusch confessed to the judge that he was under the influence of methamphetamine when Fuhr-Storms died and felt completely at a loss. “I was scared to death,” he admitted.

Rothenbusch was remorseful during the hearing and apologized for his actions. Fuhr-Storms’ brother, Nathan Isaacs, was not immediately forgiving. When he spoke, he told the court, “She died in his house with my nephew,” and instead of celebrating the birth of her baby boy and her birthday, the family had to plan a funeral.

Isaacs said, “The fact that that person did not call when that happened, and she laid in there, in that tub for a few days, and they planned on doing God knows what to her body, and to dispose of her body in a tote tells me that they’re guilty of so much more.”

Rothenbusch was originally charged with tampering with evidence, complicity to tampering with evidence, corrupting another with drugs, aggravated possession of drugs, and failure to report knowledge of a death. All but the complicity charge were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Sheppard and Wade were both charged with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Wade is scheduled to go on trial on March 9; Sheppard’s trial is scheduled for March 16.