Earlier this month, two missing teenagers were found dead inside of a burned and vacant Ohio home. A man and four more people have now been arrested in connection with their deaths and disappearances.
The bodies of Kyshawn Pittman, 15, and Ke’Marion Wilder, 16, were found in the rubble of a Toledo, Ohio, home on Dec. 15. Pittman and Wilder were last seen together on Dec. 5, according to Toledo Police Department.
Cruz Garcia, 24, a Toledo resident, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder. His bail has been set at $2.25 million. There are no indications that he has entered a plea or consulted with an attorney regarding his case.
According to an affidavit obtained by The Blade, Garcia kidnapped and assaulted Pittman and Wilder. He also allegedly went to the abandoned house several times during the time between the kidnapping and the fire.
On Dec. 5, a fire broke out at an abandoned Toledo home. Although firefighters responded to the scene, they could only search the first and second floors of the house since a firefighter fell through the stairs during his rescue search. Because of this, the basement of the house wasn’t examined.
A second search of the home was conducted on Dec. 15 and the bodies of Pittman and Wilder were discovered. Despite the fact that their deaths are still under investigation, WTOL-11 obtained court documents indicating Garcia assaulted the victims with a gun and tied them up.
In connection with the case, Garcia’s friend Diamond Rivera, Crystal LaForge-Yingling, Carissa Eames, and Corbin Gingrich were all questioned and charged with obstruction of justice.