Image
© unknownFrom left, Matthew Starr Puccio, Andrew Peter Forney, Kandis Jenniene Forney, Christopher Wright and Sharon Cook have been arrested in connection to the brutal murder of Jessica Rae Sacco
US: Urbana, Ohio - Five people have been arrested in connection with the death of an Ohio woman who police said was stabbed, suffocated and dismembered in a bathtub before some of her remains were taken to Kentucky.

Jessica Rae Sacco, 21, was found dead Friday in her apartment in Urbana, about 40 miles northwest of Columbus. Authorities arrested five people Saturday, including a 25-year-old man who lived at the same address as Sacco. He's charged with murder, assault, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

"We believe that he stabbed her, and then subsequently suffocated her by placing a bag over her head," police Chief Matt Lingrell told WDTN-TV. The station said police described the murder suspect as Sacco's on-again-off-again boyfriend. His bond is more than $530,000.

He was arrested in Hamilton along with a man and woman from Fenton, Mich. Felony charges against the Michigan couple and a man and woman from Urbana allege they failed to intervene during the killing or helped to hide it, police said.

Lingrell questioned why people who were present during and after the killing wouldn't remove themselves from the situation.

"For whatever reason, these people either wanted to stay or chose to stay," he said.

An autopsy on Sacco was done over the weekend, and police said they believe she was killed about a week before she was found, possibly on March 22. Police believe the main suspect acted alone in killing Sacco and then received help from the Fenton man to move and dismember the body.

Police allege that the Fenton couple helped transport some of the remains to Covington, Ky., about 90 miles away. They said they found evidence there but wouldn't elaborate.

Citing the "sensitive nature" of the case and the ongoing investigation, police refused to say what evidence has been collected, what the suspects have told authorities or what the motive for the killing might be.

The three suspects arrested in Hamilton are due in court Monday to determine whether they'll be sent to Urbana. The pair from Urbana is due in court here Monday morning. Their bonds ranged from $30,000 to $42,500.

No information was available Sunday on whether the suspects had attorneys. A phone message seeking comment was left at home of the Fenton couple. Phone listings couldn't be located for the three Ohio suspects.

Source: The Associated Press