Detectives turn to new technology in case of murdered pregnant woman

BROWN COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX) – As the 10-year anniversary of the murder of Brittany Stykes ways, her situation is continuing to obtain traction on social media and is obtaining national publicity.

In the meantime, detectives are using new technological know-how in hopes of building new potential customers in the circumstance.

It was Aug. 28, 2013, when Stykes was killed in an ambush-type attack. She was driving on OH-68 in Brown County, heading to her parents’ household to rejoice her dad’s birthday, when it took place.

Mary Dodson, Stykes’ mother, nonetheless remembers the past discussion she experienced with Stykes that day. They were being talking on the telephone.

“I claimed, ‘Well honey, I really like you. You have a excellent working day.’ And she states, ‘I will mother, I adore you too.’ And that was the past factor I talked to her,” Mary reported.

Investigators with the Brown County Sheriff’s office think protection digicam footage exhibits what was likely the previous time Stykes was viewed alive. It captured Stykes driving just a short time ahead of she was identified lifeless.

That working day, Stykes was driving a yellow Jeep with her daughter, Aubree, in tow, when an individual shot her multiple moments. Craig LaBell and his wife ended up driving by when they spotted the Jeep off the street in a wooded area. They stopped and identified Stykes lifeless at the wheel.

Introducing to the heartbreak, Stykes was expecting when she died, and Aubree, who was 18-months-outdated, experienced been shot in the head.

Miraculously, Aubree survived.

“Brittany took a single little one with her when she went, and the Lord left one with us,” Mary explained.

Mary and Dave Dodson never envisioned to shed a child, specifically at a youthful age.

“Brittany was these kinds of an innocent soul. She had this sort of a loving, caring, innocent soul. She was 22 decades previous. She was a baby. She’d just started existence. She’d not remaining, not still left my apron strings but. She was however keeping on limited to me and her daddy,” Mary reported.

Ever considering that the murder, Dave suggests celebrating his birthday has been tricky.

“The very first 7 many years immediately after, the birthday was just variety of non celebrated,” he reported.

According to detectives, the first investigation pointed them toward Stykes’ husband at the time, Shane Stykes. Shane spoke with FOX19 in 2018, stating he did not murder his wife.

Detectives verified they have interviewed him and performed lie detector tests. While they say no one particular has been formally cleared, they explain Shane as cooperative.

With no shell casings discovered at the scene, and very little proof remaining at the rear of, detectives have pursued numerous theories. They appeared into a street rage confrontation that reportedly associated Stykes and happened earlier in the day, but that did not direct to an arrest.

In 2015, they ended up informed a male named Tommy Lee Lopez had been hired to destroy Stykes. Nonetheless, that turned out to be a hoax.

Detective Quinn Carlson, at present on the circumstance, says suitable now they are making use of extremely new know-how, hoping it will convey them new qualified prospects. He are not able to say what the technological innovation involves but reveals they are putting alongside one another knowledge that could aid pinpoint in which folks ended up when Stykes died.

Stykes’ family remain focused on bringing focus to her situation. The Dodsons honor Stykes with memorials and celebrations every calendar year.

“We all get collectively on the holidays, but there’s constantly an vacant emotion, and, you know, it just, everything’s various,” Dave reported. “Your outlook on existence gets to be fully unique.”

[RELATED: Vigil held on six year anniversary of Brittany Stykes’ murder]

It is a custom that indicates a ton to Stykes’ young sister, Emily Hampton.

“I was truly close with Brittany. I was like her very little shadow. Anything at all she did or any place she went, she took me with her. We did anything together,” Hampton mentioned.

When Mary and Dave briefly regarded as placing the gatherings on pause, Hampton took matters into her have hands. She begun a Facebook team where anyone can discuss about the investigation or about Stykes. That led to Stykes’ case remaining highlighted on numerous nationally-recognized podcasts and news courses.

“There’s men and women from Ukraine, there is people from Australia, all about the globe that is all of a unexpected, that are adhering to this,” Dave explained.

There is a $50,000 reward for data in the situation.

Stykes’ family customers want solutions for by themselves, but extra than just about anything, they want them for 10-year-previous Aubree.

“She is undoubtedly a smartmouth small edition of her mother. She has the craziest angle, and she’s super mouthy and just actually outgoing and loud. She retains almost nothing again. She’s been through a good deal of trauma, but it absolutely does not end her,” Hampton explained.

Until finally that day comes, they are prepared to do no matter what it takes to make absolutely sure Stykes is in no way neglected.

Mary thinks she is familiar with, in her coronary heart, who took her daughter’s lifetime, but she does not say far more than that to prevent impacting the investigation.

As for some of the proof in the case, Shane Stykes sued the Brown County Sheriff’s Office in recent yrs to get the yellow jeep again. He received, and it is now in his possession. He has said that is something Aubree needed.

[RELATED: Jeep, other items returned to husband of Brittany Stykes]

Anyone with information and facts on the case can call Detective Carlson at 937.378.4435 extension 130.

The sheriff’s office environment also has an anonymous suggestion portal on its web page.

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