Three people, including the victim’s cousin, are in custody in connection to the suspected murder of a Kentucky cancer patient who was missing for nearly a week before her body was found, WCPO-TV reports.
On Friday, police located the body of Denita Satchwell, 58, in a forested area by Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. Investigators arrested 38-year-old Kenneth Maurice Jones, Satchwell’s cousin, with murder in connection with her death. Jones, who also was charged with tampering with evidence and robbery, is being held on a $1 million bond.
A juvenile whose identity has not been released is facing the same charges, and a third person, 18-year-old Braedon Reaves, is in jail on a charge of facilitating a homicide.
Darlene Lancaster, Satchwell’s friend, told the television station she couldn’t understand why anyone would hurt Satchwell.
“It’s just hard to believe that somebody could do that to such a nice person,” Lancaster said.
Satchwell had been undergoing chemotherapy at the time she disappeared, according to WLWT-TV.
Police on Monday had issued a Golden Alert for Satchwell, who had late-stage cancer and was reportedly feeling “lonely and depressed” before her disappearance. The alert indicated that she might have been traveling to visit her mother’s grave.
To Satchwell’s daughter, Amy Collins Brewer, her mother’s disappearance didn’t add up. Brewer commented on Facebook that her mom did not drive very often because of the cancer and she noted that her mother’s home appeared to have been disturbed.
“Her oxygen and her dog that means more than anything to her were left behind,” Brewer wrote. “These are things that my mother would not do. Her back door was also found unlocked lamps were knocked over and garbage inside her home, and (in) my heart I feel like there is some type of foul play.”
Authorities have yet to disclose a motive for the killing. Lesa Sinclair, another friend, said Satchwell’s family wants to know what happened.
“I’m sure they want answers,” she said. “So if somebody knows something, they need to speak.”
To report information about the case, call Detective Jess Hamblin at 859-292-2375.
[Feature Photo: Denita Satchwell/Covington Police Department]
