CINCINNATI (TCN) —Â A man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2023 death of 44-year-old Shannon Ashcraft-Saylor in exchange for the dismissal of murder and assault charges.
WKRC reports Anthony Howard, 53 at the time of the Ashcraft-Saylor’s death, had an ongoing sexual relationship with the victim. He admitted to pushing her out of a window and said that at the time he believed she had died of a drug overdose. Ashcraft-Saylor’s body fell approximately 20 feet. Howard dragged it to the area in which it was discovered, the outlet reports.
Howard then disposed of Ashcraft-Saylor’s belongings, WXIX reported at the time.
Her body was discovered Oct. 8, 2023, and Howard was arrested four days later. He was charged with abuse of a corpse, obstructing official business, and tampering with evidence, according to WXIX.
On Feb. 9, 2024, a grand jury indicted Howard on the additional charges of two counts of murder, one count of felonious assault, and one count of involuntary manslaughter, WCPO reported at the time.
According to the Hamilton County coroner, Ashcraft-Sayles might have eventually died from a drug overdose, but the fall from the window caused her death, WKRC reports.
According to WKRC, Howard will receive credit for the time he spent in jail awaiting trial.
