April Barlow Celio, a 41-year-old pregnant mother, was found dead in her Pineville, Kentucky, residence on September 23, with her unborn child removed from her womb. Authorities and the Bell County Coroner's Office determined her death was a homicide.
Autopsy reveals no fetus
The State Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed there was no fetus in April's womb when her body was analysed. Investigators at the scene recovered what authorities and medical examiners suspected to be fetal remains. Officials have not publicly disclosed how April died or how the unborn baby was extracted.
Suspect named and arrested
DeMarcus Kenneth Johnson-Wright was named as a suspect. A Bell County District Court judge issued warrants for him on September 25 on suspicion of first-degree robbery and kidnapping. Additional warrants were issued on September 30, charging him with murder involving domestic violence and tampering with physical evidence.
Johnson-Wright was arrested, and a search warrant was later obtained for the home, where investigators seized materials connected to the case. He was processed into the Montgomery County Detention Centre in Tennessee and is awaiting extradition to Kentucky. The connection, if any, between Johnson-Wright and April remains unknown.
Family mourns devoted mother
April's family is grieving the loss of the 41-year-old mother, who is survived by her husband, Antonio, and three children: Kaden Alexander Iracheta, Alaina Sofia Celio, and Nicolas Antonio Celio. She is also survived by her parents, Michael and Teresa Barlow, sister Amanda De Paz, and other family members and friends. April was born in Pineville on September 11, 1985.
Her sister Amanda organised a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and support the surviving children. Johnson-Wright remains held in Tennessee as extradition proceedings to return him to Kentucky are underway, and the investigation is ongoing.
