HAMILTON, OH—John Carter, 36, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of his fiancée, Katelyn Markham, who was 21 years old at the time of her disappearance. The sentencing took place on Thursday in the Butler County Common Pleas Court.
The case, unresolved for over a decade, drew significant attention as hundreds of volunteers searched for Markham after she vanished. It wasn’t until April 2013 that a man scavenging for scrap metal in a wooded area in Indiana discovered a skull in a plastic bag, prompting a 911 call. Additional remains were found 30 miles from Markham’s home, and dental records confirmed they belonged to her. The cause of death was ruled a homicide, though specific details remain unclear.
During the sentencing, Markham’s father, Dave, delivered a poignant victim impact statement. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Katelyn,” he expressed, as reported by local NBC affiliate WLWT. He also wished for Carter to experience the enduring pain the family and community have suffered.
Judge Daniel Haughey criticized Carter’s lack of remorse over the events. Carter, who was arrested on March 22, 2023, initially cooperated with police but later ceased communication and requested legal representation. The long-awaited sentencing marks a somber milestone in a case that has haunted the community for over 13 years.
