The Tribune

Three arrests have been made in connection with a vehicle fire in the 4400 block of Junior Furnace Powellsville Road in Scioto County.

Deputies, along with the Green Township Fire Department, responded to the fire about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. After the fire was put out, a burnt body was discovered inside the truck.

After an investigation by the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Thomas Henry Steinhauer, 47, of Portsmouth, Raymond J. Linkous, 35, of Wheelersburg, and David K Gerald, 37, also of Wheelersburg, were arrested.

All three were charged with aggravated murder, aggravated arson, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. They are all being held on a $212,500 bond and will appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court Friday.

Detectives were able to locate the suspect vehicle which led to several suspects being identified and questioned which resulted in recovering two alleged murder weapons and the victim’s cell phone.

Sheriff Marty Donini said the remains found in the vehicle were sent to the Montgomery County Morgue for an autopsy and through forensic technology, the remains were identified as Felipe Lopez, 24 of Friendship.

Donini also said the quick arrest was the result of the joint effort between his office and the State Fire Marshal’s office

Donini said that investigation is still ongoing and anybody with any information should contact Detective Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091 or the State Fire Marshals Office at 1-800-589-2728. All calls will remain anonymous.