Ohio: Body found in backyard, under concrete as missing man, Nicholas Stein, Carl Spencer charged with murder
Officials have identified the body encased in concrete and buried in a backyard in Ohio as Nicholas Stein, a man reported missing last year.
Stein, 26, has been identified by the Stark County Coroner’s Office yesterday after the body was discovered on February 2 inside a plastic container, buried in the yard of a home in Massillon. Stein reportedly lived there and police have charged Carl Spencer, of Hartville, with murder.
The Coroner’s Office revealed that fingerprint analysis was adequate to identify Stein.
Defense attorney Derek Lowry previously said Spencer is pleading not guilty, but declined further comment. Spencer is currently jailed on $5 million bond.
Excavation of the body made headlines as he was found in a large, plastic container, covered in concrete and large construction machinery were used to dig out the storage box.
“The locked box contained human remains encased in concrete, the coroner’s office said. According to investigators, it appeared a small excavator was used to dig the hole about 6 feet deep,” Fox 8 noted at the time.
“The container, which measures about 3.5 feet by 2.5 feet, was locked. The coroner’s office said it appears someone used a small excavator about a year ago to dig the hole about 6 feet down.”
There report also detailed police finding malnourished children and an abused dog on the premises.