For two months, Jackie Godbey has lived in what she calls “a nightmare” — waking up each morning with the weight of her son Ryan’s disappearance and now facing the reality that he may never come home.
Her 27-year-old son, Ryan, vanished in June. What began as a missing person’s case is now a homicide investigation, with his former partner, 33-year-old Daniel Mattay, charged with murder, felonious assault, strangulation, domestic violence, and other offenses. Authorities say evidence found in Ryan’s Canton apartment — blood stains in multiple rooms, a shattered table, and a neighbor’s account of hearing a man shout “he’s choking me” — made it clear the case was no longer a search for a missing man, but a pursuit of justice in a killing.
Despite the charges, Ryan’s body has not been found. Investigators with the Canton Police Department, assisted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, continue to search. Some of Ryan’s personal belongings, including his credit cards and ID, were discovered discarded along I-77, but no sign of him has surfaced.
Jackie said the absence of her son’s remains makes the pain even harder to bear.
“We want closure. We want to give Ryan a proper send-off,” she said. “Every day is a struggle. It feels like we’re stuck in a nightmare that we can’t wake up from.”
A family’s mission for closure
In late June, Mattay was arrested on drug and trespassing charges before prosecutors added the homicide counts. A Stark County judge set bond at $1.5 million after Mattay attempted to escape custody at the county jail. He now awaits trial, while the case is expected to be presented to a grand jury in the coming weeks.
For Jackie and her family, the legal process is just one part of the journey. The other is deeply personal — finding Ryan and saying goodbye.
“Our mission now is closure,” she said. “We need answers. We need to bring him home.”
Community rallies in support
While the family waits, the community has rallied behind them. Vigils and gatherings, including a celebration of life at the Canton Palace Theatre attended by about 100 people, have been held to honor Ryan. The theater was lit with stars, music, photos, and glitter — a reflection of Ryan’s vibrant personality.
“The love from the community has been overwhelming,” Jackie said. “It keeps us going. It keeps Ryan’s memory alive. He would be proud of how people have shown up for him.”
The family also raised the reward for information leading to Ryan’s remains from $10,000 to $15,000, urging anyone with knowledge to come forward.
Living the nightmare
Even as vigils bring comfort, the day-to-day reality weighs heavily on the Godbey family. Jackie said each morning begins with a fleeting hope that it was all a bad dream.
“Then you realize it’s real,” she said. “You relive it all over again.”
Despite the anguish, she remains determined that Ryan’s story not fade.
“Please keep talking about Ryan,” she urged. “Share his story. Let love overcome evil. That’s how we’ll get justice for him.”
Ongoing investigation
“Canton Police Detectives are confident in the results of our investigation so far and in the criminal case against Daniel Mattay,” Chief John Gabbard said. “Detectives continue to follow leads toward additional evidence.”
Detectives continue to follow leads, and Jackie said she remains in regular contact with police. Authorities encourage anyone with information to reach out to the Canton Police Department or submit anonymous tips through Crimestoppers.
Until then, Jackie said, her family will press on, carried by love, faith, and the community’s support.
“There’s no place we wouldn’t go, no step we wouldn’t take to bring Ryan home,” she said. “We just want to lay him to rest with the dignity he deserves.”
