Butler Co. man charged in girlfriend’s death

A 21-year-old Marine reserve corporal has been charged with killing his 26year-old girlfriend in Butler County.

Investigators believe Ishemer Ramsey, of Lyndora, shot and killed Melissa Barto during an argument inside his car on Thursday night.

Mr. Ramsey was arrested Sunday and charged with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence, court records show. Ms. Barto’s body has not been found.

“We do believe we have the killer,” said Pennsylvania state Trooper James Long.

The case came together when a tipster called police and reported seeing Mr. Ramsey with another man, James Howard-George, 23, inside a Walmart around 2 a.m. Friday.

Mr. Howard-George purchased a pack of rubber gloves, and Mr. Ramsey bought a tarp and rope, Trooper Long said.

When investigators interviewed Mr. Howard-George, he said that Mr. Ramsey had told him that he’d killed Ms. Barto.

Mr. Howard-George said Mr. Ramsey came to his house on Thursday night and told him he’d shot Ms. Barto three times during an argument about his suspicions that she was cheating on him, Trooper Long said. Mr. Howard-George claimed he was not present during the shooting.

He said Mr. Ramsey told him that he shot Ms. Barto twice in the head, then Ms. Barto said, “You shot me,” which prompted Mr. Ramsey to shoot her a third time.

After Mr. Ramsey confessed to the killing, he forced Mr. Howard-George to go to Walmart with him. Mr. Howard-George said they then took the bloodstained car to a car wash on Route 356, where Mr. Ramsey cut out the carpet and cleaned the vehicle with bleach.

Mr. Ramsey is a lance corporal in the Marine Corps Forces Reserve, Capt. Andrew Chrestman confirmed Monday. He is a motor vehicle operator assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment.

Mr. Ramsey was pulled over for a traffic stop on Eagle Mill Road in Butler Township on Friday. Officers noted his vehicle was missing the passenger seat and carpet on the passenger side. Officers also found a bottle of bleach inside the car.

Mr. Ramsey was in possession of a .45-caliber pistol when he was arrested. He is being held without bail at the Butler County Prison.

Ms. Barto’s family declined to comment on Monday. Authorities are continuing to search for Ms. Barto’s body.