Woman's body found on porch of Toledo home
Warrant issued for fugitive husband suspected in wife's death
11/4/2012
Police say Kyle Sheppard strangled Katie in their West Toledo home and fled to Canada.
Police say Kyle Sheppard strangled Katie in their West Toledo home and fled to Canada.
A Toledo man suspected in the death of his wife might have fled to Canada, police said.
Katie Sheppard, 29, was found dead at 10:20 p.m. Friday by police who were called to check her safety; her body was in an enclosed front porch, covered with a blanket.
An arrest warrant for one count of murder was issued by Toledo police for the woman's husband, Kyle Sheppard, 29.
In the charging document filed in Toledo Municipal Court Saturday police said Mrs. Sheppard appeared to have been strangled inside her home in the 1800 block of Rivard Road near Reynolds Corners. A motive was unclear.
Police said they were asked to check on the woman's well-being after she did not show up for work and she did not answer calls from co-workers.
Police peered into a front window and saw her body. Police noted in the court document that there was no forced entry into the home — a residential alarm system was set and functional — leading police to believe her assailant knew the victim. They also noted that there was an attempt to “clean up the crime scene.”
During the investigation, police learned that Mr. Sheppard left for Canada on Friday morning. As of Saturday evening, Mr. Sheppard had not been arrested.
According to Mr. Sheppard's Facebook page, he is from Ontario.
The couple, according to marriage records, wed on Sept. 20, 2008.
Neighbors were stunned to learn of Mrs. Sheppard's death and that Mr. Sheppard is charged with the crime.
“I’m shocked, I’m shocked,” said Antonio Booker, 44, a private contractor who lives across the street. “He’s a real nice guy. I would have never thought it. Nice people. Never saw any blowups, or arguments, or nothing.”
Rick Heminger, 54, another neighbor, described the couple as “very nice neighbors.”
“We waved back and forth,” he said. “They have always been a cute young couple. I mean, they were good neighbors, always kept to themselves.”
He said Mrs. Sheppard “was just a sweetheart.”