Body Found In Trunk Could Be Columbus Woman Car Registered To Local Man

POSTED: 4:51 p.m. EST December 9, 2002 UPDATED: 5:54 p.m. EST December 10, 2002

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Investigators said a body found over the weekend in the trunk of a burning car in Youngstown may be that of a Columbus woman, NewsChannel 4 reported.

Suzanne Dalton, 42, has been missing from her Columbus home since she left Saturday morning to go Christmas shopping.

Her husband, Richard Dalton, said Youngstown police contacted him and told him the family car, a 1999 Lincoln Continental, was found burned behind a former bar in Youngstown with a charred woman's body in the trunk. They requested Suzanne's dental records and scheduled an interview for Tuesday with Richard.

Richard said he didn't know what had happened.

"I don't know anything at all except that's my car and what's it doing three hours from here with a body in it?" Dalton said. "That doesn't happen when you go to Kohl's to go shopping."

Richard said the last time he saw his wife (pictured, right) was Saturday afternoon. He was still sleeping when she told him she was going to a Columbus Kohl's store on Morse Road to do some Christmas shopping, NewsChannel 4's Beth Dal Ponte reported.

Richard said he reported his wife missing at about noon Sunday, four hours after Youngstown police found the burning car.

"I've got good strong parents and a strong faith. There's nothing I can do about it," Dalton said. "I've asked all the questions. But they (police) don't have the answers."

NewsChannel 4's Larry Roberts said one possible piece of evidence could be a security camera that watches the Kohl's parking lot. It was not known if police had asked for the tape, or if the camera caught anything on tape.

Columbus police are working with Youngstown investigators. Police hope to have a positive identification on the woman's body soon. The Mahoning County coroner is performing an autopsy on the body.

Youngstown police talked to Suzanne Dalton's co-workers Tuesday at the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, where she worked as a medical claims specialist.

Previous Story: December 9, 2002: Body Found In Trunk Of Burning Car Copyright 2002 by nbc4columbus.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2002

Answers

http://www.nbc4columbus.com/news/1828354/detail.html

Check out the photo: she's another pretty brunette

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2002

I got a suspicious feeling after reading this article, espcially the lines about the husband. I wonder if the bar had a camera...

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2002

It wouldn't surprise me if the husband is somehow involved. Unfortunately, we have garbage like this happening at least several times a year in Cols.

But what struck me was the burned car comming so closely in time to Samatha's burned car. Probably copy cat. It's nothing new to burn cars to hide a crime, I know.

The location just struck me.

Blah! I'm brunette, but I'm glad I'm not pretty, nor have husband who wants me out of the way . . .

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2002

Update: the body was Suzanne Dalton.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2002

Just seeing this.. you know my theory.. hmmmmmmmmmmmm wonder IF they got all that was involved with the other.... store parking lot, brunette>..car found hrs away??? yep, prolly just a copy cat! it is late, and I am not thinking clear... but I am thinking the hubby was really sleeping when she left!

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2002