James Rothenbusch, 52, received a 30-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to complicity to tampering with evidence in the death of 28-year-old pregnant Brittany Fuhr-Storms. Her body was discovered on August 3, 2025, sealed in a plastic storage tote in a wooded area of Jackson Township, Ohio, following an alleged overdose at Rothenbusch’s Middletown home.​
Incident Background
Fuhr-Storms died at the apartment on Logan Avenue shared by Rothenbusch and Rick Sheppard, who kept her naked body—wrapped in towels and a tarp—in the bathtub for four days before dumping it. Rothenbusch admitted during sentencing he was high on methamphetamine, scared, and unsure what to do.
Co-Defendants and Charges
Rothenbusch’s plea dismissed other charges like drug possession and failure to report a death. Rick Sheppard, 47, and Walter Wade, 44, face trials on March 9 and 16, 2026, respectively, for gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence; they allegedly helped conceal the body.
Family Impact
Fuhr-Storms’ brother, Nathan Isaacs, expressed outrage in court, noting the family mourned her and her unborn son instead of celebrating, and accused the men of greater guilt. All three suspects were aware of her pregnancy but failed to seek help.
