Missing Ryan Zimmerman

In January of 2016, an individual strolling alongside Coldwater Creek in West Bank State Park stumbled upon what they perceived to be human skeletal remains and promptly notified the authorities.

"I may be completely mistaken, but while walking my canine, I stumbled upon what appears to be human bones," the caller reported.

Subsequent investigation confirmed the human origin of the discovered remains. However, further examination revealed they constituted only a segment of a larger body. Notably absent were any parts from the elbows or knees downward, as well as the skull, suggesting a gruesome act of dismemberment.

Efforts to identify the victim ensued. State investigators, in collaboration with deputies, diligently scoured the area for clues, while a forensic anthropologist meticulously analyzed the bones. Their findings pointed to a male victim aged between 20 and 35 years old.

The pivotal task of establishing the victim's identity led to the dispatch of the bones to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for DNA extraction by the Forensic Biology Lab. Despite successful extraction, no match surfaced to identify the victim.

Four years later, Criminal Intelligence Analyst Jennifer Lester stumbled upon the case of a 22-year-old man missing since 2015 while reviewing Columbus Missing Persons cases. Remarkably, the family's DNA had never been collected.

Upon obtaining DNA samples from the man's parents in Corbin, Kentucky, Ryan Zimmerman was positively identified in June of 2020. However, before detectives could unravel the mystery of his demise, they delved deeper into Ryan's life.

Ryan's private life unfolded with revelations. His family portrayed him as an aficionado of video games, computers, and cartoons, relishing moments with his brother. Yet, unbeknownst to them, a clandestine aspect of Ryan's life emerged. Investigation unveiled his post on Craigslist Personals, expressing a desire for a submissive role in a relationship. Furthermore, Ryan had been contemplating gender transition, evidenced by his exploration of hormone therapy, voice modulation, and acquisition of female attire.

Jennifer Lester, from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), unearthed these details through meticulous analysis of Ryan's online activities. His encounters led him to an individual identified only by the screen name "Laurel Emerson," later revealed to be Corey Buzzard, a married man.

In August of 2015, Ryan relocated from Corbin to Columbus, cohabiting with Corey, Corey's wife Sarah Buzzard, and transgender woman Naira Whitaker. Initially, Ryan and Corey were involved romantically, while Sarah was in a relationship with Naira. However, tensions arose, culminating in Corey's decision to evict Ryan.

During Corey's absence over a weekend, Sarah succumbed to a sinister plot. She, in collaboration with Naira, orchestrated Ryan's demise. Strangulation ensued, followed by dismemberment in the confines of a bathtub. The remains were then scattered across various locations in Ohio.

By July of 2021, investigators closed in on the perpetrators. Searches of the Columbus apartment and the Toyota Corolla associated with Sarah Buzzard yielded traces of human blood. Sarah was apprehended on August 25th, subsequently pleading guilty to aggravated murder in connection with Ryan Zimmerman's death. She received a sentence of 30 years to life imprisonment.

Conversely, Corey faced no charges, as his involvement in Ryan's demise was not substant