Friday, February 18, 2011 3:48 PM
Updated: Friday, February 18, 2011 7:15 PM
BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — A man sought in connection with the death of a Bellefontaine woman who was found dead in her mother's basement was charged with murder on Friday afternoon.
Samuel K. Littleton was charged with murder, felonious assault, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.
Littleton, 37, was last seen on Wednesday. Officials said they were searching for Littleton in connection with the death of Tiffany Brown, but until Friday afternoon would only call him a "person of interest."
Littleton is the boyfriend of Brown's mother, Deb Neeley.
Brown, 26, was found Wednesday night. Investigators said she was found partially clothed under a pile of scrap wood and had been stabbed multiple times.
Brown disappeared on Feb. 11 after dropping her children off at a neighbor's house and leaving to run errands.
According to Bellefontaine police Chief Brad Kunze, Brown was probably murdered last weekend.
Littleton is also being sought in connection with the disappearance of an elderly Logan County couple.
Richard and Gladis Russell once owned the residence where investigators found Brown's body. The home was sold to Littleton, who lived in the home with Neeley.
The couple's 2004 green Mercury Grand Marquis was also missing, 10TV's Danielle Elias reported.
The vehicle was last spotted on Wednesday at a rest stop in Butler County.
An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper was checking random license plates and came across the vehicle, but it was not reported stolen so there was no further investigation.
Deputies said that Russell's car has Ohio license plate No. PDG-13E.
The two are long-time members of the Bellefontaine Lion's Club and known throughout the community, Elias reported. Neighbors said it would be unlike them to leave without telling anyone. Family members said a neighbor, who normally checks on the Russells, spotted their paper sitting on their lawn, and went inside their house to find the couple and their car missing.
"The first thing I noticed was Gladis always keeps a log of when Dick's blood pressure and sugar count and that had not been updated since, I think, Wednesday morning," said family member Mike Coder.
There were no signs of foul play in the home but investigators did find something strange.
"There was a note inside that I believe, had a phone number on it that came back to Mr. Littleton," said Logan County sheriff's deputy Randy Dodds. "We found that inside which is what raised our suspicion."
At daybreak on Friday, authorities began scouring the Russell's 80-acre property in rural Logan County.
Officers were seen searching in barns, fields and outbuildings for clues related to their disappearance.
The search for Littleton has expanded out of Ohio, and involves authorities in Tennessee and West Virginia, where Littleton is known to have family, 10TV News reported.
Family and friends were gathering on Friday evening at Brown's home on Albert Street for a vigil to remember the mother of two, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.
"She's just a great person," said friend Neoma Price. "She was trying to go somewhere with her life working and going to school to better herself and her children. Just a lot of tears and a lot of hugs for the family, just praying that this nightmare for them (Brown's family) will be over soon."
Hundreds of people were expected to attend the vigil. People have been stopping by the home throughout the day to leave candles, flowers and signs and to pay their respects.
Investigators are asking anyone living near the Russell residence to check any out buildings or other structures on their property and report anything suspicious to the sheriff's office at 937-592-5731 . Anyone with information on Littleton's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 937-599-8477 .
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