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| Ryan Godbey / FaceBook |
Canton Police have charged Daniel Mattay, 33, with the murder of beloved drag artist Ryan Godbey, even though Godbey has yet to be located.
Godbey, whose pronouns are they/them according to qommittee.org, performed as JJ and was excited do a show Saturday night. When they didn't show, they were reported as missing. Godbey was last seen at Darlin's Crew nightclub on Cherry Avenue NE on Thursday night.
They sent a text to a friend early Friday that Danny was "mad." Calls and texts to their phone since then have gone unanswered.
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| Daniel Mattay Credit: Stark County Jail |
Canton police announced late Thursday that the disappearance of Ryan Godbey is now a homicide investigation. They’ve charged Daniel Mattay, Ryan’s former partner, with four felonies: murder, felonious assault, strangulation and domestic violence.
“New evidence has led our agency to transition the case from a missing person to a homicide investigation,” Canton Police Chief John Gabbard wrote in a news release. “While Godbey has not yet been located, the new evidence makes it clear that they are deceased and that Mr. Mattay is responsible.”
The police department did not say what the new evidence is. Mattay is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Monday in Canton Municipal Court.
