Miami County man accused of killing wife
Woman was found dead in car with a single gunshot wound.
MIAMI COUNTY — A 52-year-old Ludlow Falls woman was found dead inside a car Friday with a single gunshot wound to the chest, and her husband has been charged with murder, according to the Miami County Sheriff ’s Office.
The body of Samantha Freels was found inside a car Friday afternoon that crashed into a creek on Ohio 55.
Randy Albert Freels, 57, was charged with murder in the death of his wife, the sheriff ’s office said. He had been held at the Miami County Jail since Friday night on two misdemeanor charges of inducing panic and for a hit-and-run crash, according to authorities.
Samantha Freels was employed as a digital sales specialist for Cox Media Group Ohio, the parent company of the Dayton Daily News.
“Samantha (Sam) was a talented, dedicated, and beloved member of our advertising team. We are incredibly saddened by this tragedy and our hearts and prayers go out to her family,” said Rob Rohr, Ohio market vice president for Cox Media Group
and publisher of the Dayton Daily News.
Crews were dispatched around 3:10 p.m. Friday to Ohio 55 at Elleman Road on reports of a vehicle that crashed into a creek. Evidence at the scene, however, led officials to believe Samantha Freels’ death was suspicious and more than just a crash.
The Miami County Sheriff ’s Office Special Response Team, along with SRTs from the Troy and Piqua police departments, went to her home on Rangeline Road, where Randy Freels was found and taken into custody without incident.
Fur t her investigation revealed Samantha Freels was shot to death, according to authorities.