Infant Homicide Investigated by Belmont County Sheriff’s Office; Suspect in Custody
ST CLAIRSVILLE – In a short press conference Tuesday morning , an emotional Belmont County Sheriff James G. Zusack provided information on an infant’s murder from the perspective of responding personnel.
“It was a very difficult scene to deal with. I commend my guys and gals that were on the scene. Life-saving efforts were made, and this is something no one would want to see,” Zusak said. “This takes a toll on my people. I worry about that.”
“There is a lot of social media comments being made and I would just ask the people to have a little empathy and respect for family and people who are mourning.”
“Let the judicial system take care of this problem,” the sheriff concluded as he handed out the following press release to media representatives who gathered at the administrative offices and jail located on Hammond Road.
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PRESS RELEASE
The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a homicide involving a one-year-old infant that occurred on the morning of July 31, 2026, in Belmont.
At approximately 8:38 a.m., Belmont County Central Dispatch received a 911 call from a female resident reporting an emergency at a home located on Buttermilk Road. Belmont County Sheriff’s deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, arriving at approximately 8:47 a.m.
Upon arrival, first responders located an unresponsive one-year-old child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were immediately attempted by responding deputies; however, the infant tragically succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Following an initial scene assessment, law enforcement took into custody the mother of the child, identified as Autum Sky Stotelmyer (also known as Autum Palmer), age 20.
Stotelmyer has been formally charged with Aggravated Murder (Ohio Revised Code 2903.01) an unclassified felony. She was booked into the Belmont County Jail on No Bond.
The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division is conducting the ongoing investigation with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Crime Unit and the Belmont County Coroner’s Office.
Charges have been referred to the Belmont County Prosecutor’s Office.
Because this remains an an active criminal investigation, further details regarding evidence, motive, and statements will not be released at this time to protect the integrity of the case and the legal process.
(Belmont County Sheriff’s Office press release)
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On Monday, the suspect, referred to county court records as Autum Sky Stotelmyer-Palmer appeared in Western Division Court before Judge Eric Costine.
The State of Ohio was represented through Prosecutor, Kevin Flanagan, and Assistant Prosecutor, Joseph A. Vavra. The Public Defender was appointed to represent the defendant.
No Plea was entered by the suspect with a preliminary hearing set for 1:15 p.m., Thursday, August 11.
Court records reveal, “with a specific finding that defendant may be a risk to her own safety, defendant is remanded without bond”. The defendant is also ordered to be evaluated by Coleman Counseling Services.
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