Case now at federal level

CLEVELAND — The Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cleveland Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cincinnati Division, and the US Attorney’s Office Northern District of Ohio, announce the federal arrests of Amanda Hovanec, 35, of Wapakoneta, Anthony Theodorou, 34, of Pretoria, South Africa, and Anita Green, 61, of Wapakoneta, on May 2.

Hovanec is charged with violations of 21 U.S.C. 841 (a)(1), (b) (1)(C)-Distribution of a controlled substance that resulted in death; 21 U.S.C. 846-Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance that resulted in death; and 21 U.S.C. 952-Importation of a controlled substance that resulted in death.

Theodorou is charged with violations of 21 U.S.C. 841 (a) (1), (b)(1)(C)-Distribution of a controlled substance that resulted in death; 21 U.S.C. 846-Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance that resulted in death; 21 U.S.C. 952-Importation of a controlled substance that resulted in death; and 18 U.S.C. 3-Accessory After the Fact.

Green is charged with a violation of 18 U.S.C. 3-Accessory After the Fact.

Prosecutor Ed Pierce said Tuesday it was important to note none of the suspects were ever out of custody. According to Sheriff Mike Vorhees, a clerical error was made in accepting a check for bond for Anthony Theodorou; however, that check was returned in short order and the suspect remained in custody. The story in Tuesday’s edition of The Evening Leader indicated bond was posted but Theodorou never left his jail cell.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaints, on or about April 24, 2022, Hovanec is accused of injecting the victim identified in the complaint as T.H., with “M99,” a name used for Etorphine HCI, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The affidavit states that Hovanec injected the victim while stand

-ing next to a vehicle, followed by her pulling on the victim’s hand and shirt as the victim tried to use a cellphone. She then aggressively wrestled for the victim’s phone, eventually knocking it out of his hand. Hovanec proceeds to pull on the victim’s back and neck, pulling the victim to the ground. She continues to hold the victim around the neck (not choking) until his body goes limp, removes what appeared to be an Apple Watch and turns off the vehicle. The victim laid unconscious and unresponsive in the driveway. It is alleged that Hovanec placed the victim’s body in the garage.

The affidavit states that prior to the crime Hovanec informed her mother, Anita Green, of her intention to kill the victim. She then informed her that it had been done.

Hovanec drove the victim’s vehicle to a location in Dayton, Ohio, removing the license plate and discarding the vehicle. Theodorou followed Hovanec to Dayton and provided transportation back to the Hovanec residence.

It is further alleged that after returning from Dayton, Hovanec and Theodorou placed the victim’s body in the back of her Honda Pilot. Hovanec and Theodorou agreed Green would transport them to a pre-determined location and Green would return two hours later after they

buried the body in a wooded area located at the northwest corner of Blank Pike and Wrestle Creek Road in Auglaize County.

Wapakoneta Police were contacted by local hotel staff when the victim failed to check out of his hotel room and personal belongings were left untouched for two days.

The Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Agents and Task Force officers of the Northwest Ohio Safe Streets Task Force, Ohio BCI, Wapakoneta Police Department, St. Mary’s Police Department, Grand Lake Task Force, Lucas County Coroner and the Auglaize County Coroner conducted the joint investigation that led to the arrests of Hovanec, Theodorou, and Green.