A mother of two children, who authorities say was kidnapped from Ohio and later found dead in Tennessee, was familiar with her killer.
According to the employer of Kaitlyn Lynch, 36, “She was a wonderful woman and was trying to help that man get back on track.”
Kaitlyn was found dead inside her vehicle with a gunshot wound on August 19 in Cheatham County, Tennessee by authorities. The discovery was made after a multi-county car chase ended in the arrest of Lance Miller, 32, of Abbott, Texas.
Lynch worked with James Hartke at his law firm in Ohio. Harte told news media that Miller was a friend of Lynch’s late husband, who unexpectedly passed this spring.
“Miller had fallen on hard times and she offered to let him stay in her basement,” Hartke said. “I also had heard from others that Miller had romantic feelings for Kaitlyn, which she did not reciprocate.”
Investigators began searching for Lynch on Aug. 18 after police responded to a Cincinnati home on a report of shots fired. The Cincinnati Police Department reported an investigation revealed that a victim might have been injured and held against her will in her vehicle that was taken.
“She was super sweet,” Sherrie Rickman, who also worked with Lynch at the law firm, stated about her friend. “She was a really spunky girl. She was a hugger.”
Miller is currently being held at Wilson County Sheriffs Office in Tennessee on fugitive of justice, evading arrest and abuse of a corpse charges. In Hamilton County, Ohio, he is facing murder and kidnapping charges.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help raise money for Lynch’s funeral and for her two daughters, ages 7 and 8.
“We are in complete disbelief that this has happened to our Kaitlyn,” a statement from her family in the fundraiser reads. “Anyone who knew Kaitlyn knew how much she loved being a mom to her two beautiful daughters and how she was always willing to lend a hand. She was funny, beautiful, determined and she will be deeply missed by all.”
