A fourth person has been arrested in connection with the investigation into the deaths of two women who were found shot and severely burned inside a Canton apartment earlier this month.
Emily Marie Rider, 36, of Canton, has been charged with third-degree felony obstructing justice, according to Canton Municipal Court records.
A criminal complaint obtained by Jordan Miller News accuses Rider of hiding and concealing the whereabouts of Melissa F. Terrell, one of three suspects previously wanted in connection with the deaths of 42-year-old Katina C. Spells of Canton and 31-year-old Kourtni D. Yeager of Massillon.
According to the complaint, Rider allegedly hid and concealed Terrell’s whereabouts “by driving her around and not notifying police that she was with her.”
The alleged offense occurred Monday, the same day Terrell was captured by authorities in Massillon.
Terrell was arrested Monday afternoon in the 2200 block of Fifth Avenue NE, eight days after Spells and Yeager were found shot and severely burned inside a Skyline Terrace apartment.
Terrell’s arrest ended the search for the third and final suspect originally identified by Canton police in connection with the double homicide.
Rider’s case was filed by the Canton Police Department. Court records show she is scheduled for an arraignment hearing Wednesday in Canton Municipal Court.
Terrell is charged with aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and obstructing justice in connection with the deaths of Spells and Yeager.
The two women were found Aug. 9 after Canton firefighters responded to a structure fire at Skyline Terrace Apartments on Alan Page Drive SE. Firefighters discovered both women inside an apartment.
Police initially said the women suffered severe burns and had wounds that appeared unrelated to the fire. Investigators later determined both women had suffered gunshot wounds, and their deaths were classified as homicides.
Canton police identified three suspects in the case: Terrell, Darrell Washington and Eric R. Lamar.
Washington, 46, is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated arson. He was arrested Aug. 12 in New Philadelphia after authorities said he attempted to flee and was captured following a brief foot pursuit. His bond was later set at $3 million.
Lamar, 43, turned himself in to Canton police and the U.S. Marshals on Aug. 11. He is charged with aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and obstructing justice and was ordered held on a $2 million bond.
Terrell’s arrest Monday put all three suspects originally sought by investigators into custody.
Rider’s arrest brings the total number of people charged in connection with the investigation to four.
The cases remain pending.
