Ohio Men Formally Charged in Connection With Death of Pregnant Woman Found Sealed Into Plastic Tote

Two Ohio men have been indicted in connection with the death of a pregnant woman whose body was found in a plastic tote screwed shut in rural Montgomery County last month.

Ricky Sheppard, 47, and James Rothenbusch, 52, were formally charged with tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse, WOIO reports. The grand jury also indicted Rothenbusch charges of failure to report a death and two drug-related counts.

The body of Brittany Fuhr-Storms, 28, was found along a rural roadway on August 3, as CrimeOnline reported. Her body was wrapped in towels and tarps and sealed into the plastic tote with wood screws.

Sheppard and Rothenbusch have not been charged with Fuhr-Storms’ death, but the investigation has not been completed, WOIO said. The coroner’s office has not yet determined cause and manner of death.

The pair reportedly said that they kept the woman’s body in the shower at Rotherbusch’s apartment for nearly a week before dumping it.

A search warrant shows that investigators found towels at the apartment similar to those found in the tote with the body, along with a suspected blood stain on the carpet, a blue tarp, and wood screws.

The two remain behind bars with a court appearance set for next month.