Local missing man now considered murder case
Officials said 26-year-old Ryan Godbey was last seen on June 22. At the time, police reported Godbey had disappeared under suspicious circumstances.
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Now, according to Canton police, new evidence has led them to believe that Godbey has died. However, his body has not yet been found, police said.
According to a news release, Daniel Mattay, 33, faces several charges related to the case, including murder.
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'Unfortunately, new evidence has led our agency to transition the case from a missing person to a homicide investigation. While Mr. Godbey has not yet been located, the new evidence makes it clear that he is deceased and that Mr. Mattay is responsible,' Canton Police Chief John Gabbard is quoted in a news release.
Canton Mayor William Sherer on Friday issued a statement that read:
Yesterday evening, I made a phone call that no mayor wants to make. I personally called Jackie Godbey, the mother of Ryan Godbey, to offer my condolences after a briefing that Daniel Mattay has been officially charged with the murder of her son. While this is a monumental development in this case, and one step towards justice, it's heartbreaking. That's a phone call no mother deserves to receive.
I want to thank our detectives for their hard work on this case thus far, but I especially want to express my gratitude to this community. There are few words to describe the pride I've felt seeing everyone band together for one of our own.
I also want to take this time to make one thing clear. Everyone in this community deserves justice. I don't care about their orientation, ethnicity, sex or who they love. Our differences are what make Canton special.
The work is not over. We still need to locate Ryan.
Canton Mayor William Sherer
Anyone with any information regarding the case, or the whereabouts of Godbey, is asked to contact Canton police dispatchers at 330-649-5800 or detectives at 330-489-3144.
Anonymous tips can also be sent to Tip411 or to Stark County Crime Stoppers.
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