Audio By Carbonatix
The skeletal remains of a 14-year-old Ohio runaway who went missing in 1999 have been found after the home where she was last seen was demolished, according to police.
The Lima News reports that Lima police on Saturday said the remains of Nicholle Coppler were found in a crawl space as the home's foundation was being dug out.
Allen County Coroner Gary Beasley said they were identified through dental records.
The home was owned by Glen Fryer, who had been suspected in Coppler's death. The newspaper reports he was 55 when he killed himself in 2002 while awaiting sentencing for raping a girl.
The home was demolished after the state took possession due to unpaid taxes. Coppler's remains were the only ones found.
"I knew in my heart it was Nicholle," said the girl's mother, Krista Coppler, who now lives Florida. "I knew in my heart she never left that house."
Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin said the discovery means the homicide investigation is reopened. The newspaper reports that police have said Fryer had a link to human trafficking.
"Our goal is still the same: Try to get to the truth," Martin said. "Where exactly that will lead us I cannot say."
Lt. Jim Baker said detectives believe Fryer was involved in the death but that there also were other people. Police said other people knew the girl was in the house, and Lima police Maj. Richard Shade said at least two other people lived in the home with Fryer.
Krista Coppler said she doesn't feel the investigation was handled properly in 1999 but that police have since changed policy on runaways.
"If, in Nicholle's name, she can save some other girls, some good can come out of this," she said.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II
22 seconds -
Epstein survivors’ calls to meet King Charles and Queen harder to ignore as US visit approaches
6 minutes -
UN Secretary-General names Ghana’s Anita Kiki Gbeho as South Sudan envoy
8 minutes -
Mali withdraws recognition of Sahrawi Republic, backs Morocco’s autonomy plan
12 minutes -
Gov’t distributes over 8,500 laptops to One Million Coders project
13 minutes -
Julius Debrah, ‘man to beat’ as NDC’s James Agbey dismisses Musah Dankwah’s polls
20 minutes -
GPRTU in Savannah Region to protest alleged eviction in Damongo
49 minutes -
Re: Reinsurance does not replace process — A response to the SIGA–SIC defence
1 hour -
Gender Ministry supports Harriet Amuzu in ongoing abuse case
1 hour -
AG joins plaintiff to scrap OSP ?: We should be mindful of the mischief in this – Bobby Banson
1 hour -
Samson Lardy Anyenini questions willingness of Attorneys-General to prosecute political colleagues
1 hour -
It is only fair the OSP is heard in Supreme Court case – Bobby Banson
2 hours -
Asiedu Nketia resumes Ashanti tour, second leg kicks off on Sunday
2 hours -
NLA denies salary cut claims, threatens legal action over reports
2 hours -
BoG Governor honoured for stabilising cedi, improve inflation
2 hours