13-Year-Old Mystery Partially Solved
A long-standing missing person’s case in Ohio has reached a partial resolution after the fiance of the victim pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
John Carter Admits Role in Fiancee’s Death
John Carter, 36, entered a guilty plea on Friday in connection with the 2011 disappearance and death of Katelyn Markham. Carter, initially facing two murder charges upon his arrest in March 2023, now faces a potential sentence of up to three years in prison at his July 18th sentencing hearing.
Markham’s Disappearance and Ongoing Search
Katelyn Markham, an art student nearing graduation from the Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati, vanished from her Fairfield residence in August 2011. She and Carter were reportedly planning a move to Colorado later that year.
The discovery of skeletal remains in a wooded area of Cedar Grove, Indiana, in 2013, offered a tragic update to the case. The remains were confirmed to be Markham’s, though the cause of death remains undetermined. Cedar Grove is located approximately 20 miles west of Fairfield.
Cause of Death Unclear, Motive Unrevealed
While admitting his involvement in Markham’s death, Carter’s plea sheds no light on the cause of death or the motive behind the crime. Prosecutors in Butler County have simply stated Carter’s role in causing Markham’s death involved “physical violence and by force.”
