A body was reportedly found overnight in neighboring Lawrence County and officials believe it may be that of a missing woman.
Both state police and the Lawrence County Coroner’s Office were called to an area on Old Pulaski Road by the Mitchell Road overpass in Neshannock Township (that’s in the middle of Lawrence County, just north of New Castle) late Monday evening.
Police reportedly believe the body is that of 26-year-old Melissa Barto. Evidence found near the body reportedly matches items that were purchased by suspect Ishemer Ramsey at Walmart. Investigators are now waiting for the coroner to confirm an identity.
Barto was last seen in Butler last Thursday. State police arrested 21-year-old Ramsey of Lyndora over the weekend and charged him with fatally shooting Barto during an argument in his car.
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A second suspect was taken into custody early Tuesday in the murder of a missing Butler woman.
According to court records, 23-year-old James Howard-George was admitted to the Butler County Prison about 3:30 a.m.
According to a police criminal complaint, a witness told police they saw George with primary suspect Ishemer Ramsey the night Melissa Barto went missing at Walmart buying rope, a tarp and rubber gloves. Another tipster told authorities George was seen with Ramsey at a Butler Township car wash.
It’s unclear at this point what George has been charged with.
