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4 More Arrests Made In Connection With Slain 21-Year-Old Woman, Including Main Suspect In Her Death
Five people have now been arrested in connection with the death of Hannah Bender, whose body was believed to be found in a ravine near a rural Georgia highway.
The list of people investigators suspect of have something to do with the death of a young Georgia woman keeps on growing. The main suspect in the killing of Hannah Bender has turned himself in, and two others have been arrested in connection with her death, bringing the total number of arrests in the case up to five.
The body of a woman, believed to be Bender, 21, of Lumpkin County, was found last month in a ravine near a highway in a rural area of Forsyth County. An official autopsy to determine exactly how Bender died is forthcoming. It will also confirm if the is indeed hers, but authorities believe it is based on the tattoos on the corpse.
The main suspect in her presumed death, Austin Todd Stryker, 22, had been on the lam for more than a week, which sparked a national manhunt. He turned himself in on Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. They are working to bring him back to Georgia.
Investigators believe that he killed Bender. Authorities believe Stryker knew Bender, but haven't revealed any further details about their relationship. Investigators had been looking for both him and a 78-year-old man named Jerry Harper, who is also allegedly connected to Bender's death. Stryker and Harper were apparently spotted together in West Virginia. Harper was arrested on Friday, although it’s not clear where, 11Alive reports. He has been charged with theft by receiving stolen property and driving with a suspended license and is being held on no bond, according to online jail records.
Two teenagers were also arrested in connection with Bender’s presumed death this week. Isaac Huff, 18, was arrested Monday and, Dylan Reid, 19, was arrested Tuesday. Both teens, who live in Dawsonville, have been charged with both concealing a dead body; Reid was additionally charged with tampering with evidence, according to online jail records. Both have been denied bond.
The two teens are now part of the group of people connected to the case. Stryker’s fiancée Elizabeth Donaldson, 21, of Dawsonville, was also arrested last week and charged with tampering with evidence.
A motive for the killing has not been released.
It’s not clear if any of the suspects have lawyers who can speak on their behalf at this time.
