Kentucky Man Set for Trial Over Alleged Kidnapping and Murder
A man from Kentucky is facing trial next year on charges related to the kidnapping and murder of a woman seven years ago. Authorities say he wrapped her body and concealed it under a trailer before abandoning it beside a road.
As reported by WKYT, the Scott County Circuit Court has scheduled Ryan “Todd” Crowley’s trial for May 17-28 of next year. This trial pertains to April Arnett, who tragically passed away in 2019.
Crowley was indicted earlier this year on charges that include murder, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence. He had previously pleaded guilty to lesser charges of tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
However, Crowley maintains his innocence regarding the murder and kidnapping allegations, which are still unresolved.
His attorneys argue that the significant delay in bringing forth these charges—nearly seven years after Arnett’s death—raises questions about the validity of the case.
Court filings allege that Crowley played a role in both the kidnapping and murder of Arnett. His legal team emphasizes that filing serious charges so long after the 2019 incident casts doubt on the prosecution’s case.
On August 17, 2019, around 9:00 p.m., Kentucky State Police were alerted about a body found on Kentucky Highway 2328, later confirmed to be Arnett. This discovery occurred four days after she was believed to have been murdered in Scott County.
Documents state that Crowley wrapped Arnett’s body and stored it under a trailer. Four other individuals, including Crowley’s cousin, Ronald Crowley, have also been charged with helping to facilitate Arnett’s kidnapping.
Authorities reported that two vehicles owned by Crowley traveled over the Old Clays Ferry Bridge with Arnett’s body, wrapped in tarps and weighed down with cinder blocks. They attempted to throw her body into the water but failed when it got caught on a spur line. Subsequently, they returned the body to the car and left it on the roadside, where it was eventually discovered.
In 2019, Ronald Crowley was arrested while allegedly trying to flee to Oregon.
Arnett, a mother of three, is remembered in her obituary for her “big heart and contagious smile.”
