Human remains in Ohio County identified as missing Ohio man, two arrested

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. — Human remains found in Ohio County have been identified as Andrew Downs, a man reported missing from Whitehall, Ohio in July 2021.

On January 2, 2023, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office received information from Whitehall Police that Downs had died and was buried behind a residence at 316 Leopold Lane.

With help from the Tyler County Search and Rescue Team, the West Virginia State Police Evidence Recovery Team, and the West Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office, investigators located and excavated a burial site at the property. Human remains were recovered.

The remains were examined and tested by the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Marshall University, and the University of Tennessee. The remains were confirmed to be those of Andrew Downs.

On September 3, 2025, felony warrants were issued for Christopher Riley and Sarah Riley for concealment of a deceased human body. Christopher Riley is related to Downs. The Riley’s lived at the Leopold Lane address in 2021.

They turned themselves in on September 29, 2025. The case is now pending in Ohio County Circuit Court.

All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.