The body of a pregnant woman, Brittany Fuhr-Storms, 28, was discovered in a storage tote in Jackson Township, Ohio, on August 3, sparking a police investigation into her suspicious death. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reported that Fuhr-Storms’ unclothed body was found in the tote, and a subsequent autopsy confirmed her pregnancy at the time of her death. The investigation led authorities to a residence in Middletown, Ohio, linked to Fuhr-Storms.
Upon executing a narcotics search warrant at the Middletown residence, police arrested two men who claimed to have knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Fuhr-Storms’ death. During a press conference on August 7, Middletown police revealed that Fuhr-Storms’ body was found wrapped in towels and a tarp within the tote, initially mistaken for a cooler. The lid of the tote had been securely fastened, but officers managed to open it and recover the remains, later identified as Fuhr-Storms.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office took over the homicide case, identifying James Rothenbusch and Rick Sheppard as suspects. Both men were arrested on August 5 following the execution of a search warrant at Rothenbusch’s home on suspicion of narcotics possession. During the search, police reportedly found items related to Fuhr-Storms’ death, leading to a second warrant.
Both Rothenbusch and Sheppard were questioned about Fuhr-Storms’ death. Sheppard allegedly told police that Fuhr-Storms died of an overdose and her body was kept in the shower for four days before they attempted to dispose of it. Both men reportedly admitted to knowing about Fuhr-Storms’ pregnancy.
The coroner has yet to determine Fuhr-Storms’ cause of death. Police confirmed that they had been investigating Rothenbusch and Sheppard prior to Fuhr-Storms’ case, and seized fentanyl and other drug paraphernalia during their initial search. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff, Jeremy Roy, expressed concern over the lack of a 911 call or any attempt to seek help at the time of Fuhr-Storms’ death.
Rothenbusch faces five felony charges, including 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 two misdemeanors for failure to report a crime or death and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sheppard has been charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, both felonies. Both men are due in court on August 13.