Kaitlyn Lynch, a mother of two from Westwood, Ohio, was remembered by friends and family as a loving and devoted mother. Lynch was tragically kidnapped from her home and later found dead in her vehicle in Tennessee.
The suspect, 32-year-old Lance Miller, was apprehended at the scene with Lynch’s body in the vehicle beside him. Miller, a Texas native and friend of Lynch’s late husband, was charged with murder, kidnapping, fleeing, and abuse of a corpse. He had been residing with Lynch after arriving in Ohio just six days prior, following the death of her husband in the spring from an undisclosed illness.
According to reports, Miller had landed on hard times, and Lynch was letting him stay in her basement apartment to help him out.
Lynch, who was known for her kindness and generosity, was a mother to two young girls who were the center of her world. She was described by her colleagues as a vibrant and spirited woman.
According to court documents, Lynch was found dead in her vehicle in Tennessee after being abducted from her home. The Cincinnati police responded to a report of gunshots at her residence on August 18. Upon arrival, they discovered evidence of a shooting and a possible kidnapping.
The suspect, Lance Miller from Abbott, Texas, is currently in Tennessee awaiting extradition to Ohio on charges of murder and kidnapping after a multi-county police chase that ended in Cheatham County, Tennessee. In addition to the charges in Ohio, he also faces charges of evading arrest and abuse of a corpse in Tennessee.
The connection between Miller and Lynch’s late husband remains unclear. However, Miller had joined Lynch and her coworkers for drinks after work on August 18, the day Lynch was allegedly abducted.
On the night of her disappearance, Lynch was reportedly on a phone call with a friend outside her home when the call abruptly ended, following what is believed to have been the sound of a gunshot.
In the wake of Lynch’s death, her friends and coworkers are rallying to support her family. A GoFundMe page has been set up to transport Lynch’s body back to her family in New York and to establish education funds for her daughters.
The motive behind the murder remains unknown. The investigation involved law enforcement from both Kentucky and Tennessee and ended with Miller’s arrest in Tennessee.