Ryan Crawley, a 42-year-old man from Kentucky, has been accused of kidnapping and killing 39-year-old April Arnett in 2019, before wrapping her body in a tarp, storing it under his trailer, and later dumping her remains on the side of a road. Crawley is set to face a murder trial nearly eight years after Arnett was found dead. The trial is scheduled for May 17, 2027, in Madison County, Kentucky.
Details of the Crime
On the night of August 17, 2019, around 9 p.m., Kentucky State Police responded to a report of a body found off Old Lexington Road in Madison County. The body was identified as April Arnett, a mother of three. While it remains unclear how Arnett was killed, authorities believe she was kidnapped and murdered by Crawley four days earlier, on August 13, 2019, in Scott County, Kentucky.
According to court documents, Ryan Crawley allegedly wrapped Arnett’s body in a tarp, attached cinder blocks to weigh it down, and stored the remains under his trailer. He, along with four others—including his cousin Ronald Crawley—is accused of helping kidnap Arnett.
The Attempt to Dispose of the Body
After killing Arnett, the Crawleys attempted to dispose of her body by driving into Madison County and trying to dump it over the Old Clay’s Ferry Bridge. However, the body got caught on a wire, and a passing motorist witnessed the scene. Fearing they had been seen, the men allegedly decided to dump her body on the side of Old Lexington Road, where it was later discovered.
Legal Consequences and Charges
In 2024, Ryan Crawley and his cousin Ronald Crawley both pleaded guilty to charges of evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse. However, Ryan Crawley was indicted on a murder charge, which has led to his upcoming trial. Ronald Crawley had been arrested in Oregon in October 2019 after allegedly fleeing the state.
Remembering April Arnett
April Arnett was described by family and friends as a loving mother who had a special way of making others feel cared for. Her obituary noted, “Whenever April was around, you knew that at least one person in the room loved and cared for you more than anything. That smile and special love will never fade from our memory, but will be missed by so many.”
The brutal crime has left her family devastated, and they are hoping for justice as the trial against Ryan Crawley begins next year.
As the legal process moves forward, many are waiting for answers regarding Arnett’s tragic death and the circumstances that led to her abduction, murder, and final, cruel disposal.
