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Suspect arrested in the killing of 9-year-old Ohio girl

Posted at 3:30 PM, Dec 15, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-15 17:30:13-05
By Kamal Wallace

HLNtv.com

(CNN) — A suspect is in custody Sunday after a 9-year-old Ohio girl was found dead in a trash bin near her home, authorities said.

Jarrod Metsger, 24, was arrested at his residence in connection with the death of Reann Murphy, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

Murphy was last seen playing outdoors at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday near her family’s mobile home park in Smithfield, Ohio, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Law enforcement and civilians searched the area for the missing girl for hours. Deputies later found Murphy’s body early Sunday morning in a trash bin near her home.

Authorities said Metsger is an acquaintance of the Murphy family. Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Lutz said Metsger and Murphy had been seen together Saturday. Authorities would not say how Murphy died or discuss a motive for her death.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations has removed the trash bin for processing, according to CNN affiliate WKYC.

“Any violent death is troubling, but the death of a child is much more so. We will leave no stone unturned as this investigation continues,” said Wayne County Sheriff Travis Hutchinson.

Lutz said Metsger will be arraigned on aggravated murder charges Monday morning.

HLN was first alerted to this story via Twitter, and it was confirmed via affiliate WKYC.

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