The Murder of Samantha Guthrie
For this case, I watched an episode of The Murder Tapes. It’s season 6 episode 3, titled ‘The House on Lillian Street.’
The parents of an 18-year-old girl receive a frightening phone call that their daughter had been shot.
Background
Samantha Guthrie was only 18-years-old when she died. Once she turned 18, Samantha moved out of her father, John’s home. She struggled with addiction, and began hanging out with a bad crowd.
Samantha was described as athletic, outgoing, outspoken, and the life of the party. However, shortly before her death, Samantha started shutting out her parents more, and spent more time with her friends.
Samantha Guthrie
The Phone Call
On November 5, 2018, Samantha’s father, John, told the Akron, Ohio police, that they received a phone call that Samantha had been shot and placed in the trunk of a car.
John said that he had ordered Samantha an Uber to a home on Lillian Street, which is where she often spent time with friends. John said he knew that Samantha had gotten to the house between 2-3am.
Samantha’s mom, Joni Jackson, filed a missing persons report. Joni gave the police a description of Samantha. Samantha was described as 5’5”, blonde hair, blue eyes, and had a tattoo of a butterfly on her arm. Joni also had a matching butterfly tattoo.
John was able to tell the police that his niece, Hailee, had contacted him about Samantha’s possible death. Hailee hadn’t been at the home, but heard the story from a man named Marshall, who had actually witnessed the shooting.
Samantha’s missing person flyer
The House
The police went over to the house on Lillian Street. It was a old and vacant house. No one was permanently living there at the time, but people often used the house to squat and hangout.
The police entered the home. Inside, they found evidence of a shooting, blood, bloody clothing, and the carpet had been ripped out. There was also a burn pile in the back of the house, and it was clear that some of the evidence had been burned there.
The blood was collected and sent in for testing.
The Witness
The police were able to track Marshall down, and asked him to come in for an interview.
Marshall explained that Samantha had been trying to get a ride over to the house for a few hours that night. He said he was too tired to drive, so she had her dad pay for an Uber.
Marshall said they were hanging out, when a man named Danny Hamby showed up. Danny came in with his girlfriend, Toni, and a friend named William.
Marshall said that Samantha seemed upset by their arrival, and wanted to leave. Marshall told Samantha to go out the back door, but she went down to the basement instead.
Marshall said that Samantha had gotten into an argument with Toni and Danny. He said he heard a commotion, and saw Samantha with a bloody nose. Samantha was attempting to get away from them, when Danny shot her in the back of the head.
Marshall said that William, and a man under the street name Yoshi, carried Samantha out to the car that Danny was driving. Yoshi then cleaned up the scene.
Marshall seemed very shaken and upset about what had happened. He told the police that he didn't know why they had been arguing, but didn’t believe Samantha was alive.
The Suspects
The police received a phone call from a man, who said that Danny and Toni were at his apartment. He was afraid because they were bragging about killing someone, and had been waving guns around.
When the police arrived, Danny and Toni were outside near the vehicle that they had been driving. Danny and Toni both had guns on them, and Danny had a bag of needles. They were taken to the police station, and separated for questioning.
Toni denied knowing Samantha, and said that Danny had been with her all night. Toni said she had gotten off work around 2am, and that she and Danny went to stay at his sister’s home.
The police didn’t believe her, and said that Danny was involved with Samantha’s disappearance. Toni said Danny wasn’t capable of hurting anyone. With her denials, the police stopped the interview.
Danny was interviewed next. But, he asked for a lawyer, and refused to give his DNA.
The Accomplices
Next, the police were able to find ‘Yoshi,’ who’s real name is Dylan Brown. Dylan had been arrested on some other warrants that had been out for him.
Dylan explained that he had met Samantha a few days earlier, and really connected to her. He appeared very emotional, and began to explain what happened.
Dylan said that Danny, Toni, and William showed up. The door had been locked and the music was blaring. When they entered, Samantha had gone down to the basement. Danny and Toni followed her, and an argument started. Danny then shot Samantha as she attempted to get away from them.
Dylan described William as Danny’s “lieutenant,” and began barking orders. Dylan said he had helped William carry Samantha out to the car, and started cleaning up the house.
It was clear to the police that Dylan had helped because he was afraid of what they would do to him.
William Alexander was tracked down, and was questioned. William downplayed his involvement. But, he eventually described the area where they had taken Samantha’s body.
It was described as a rural area, near some tall trees and a chain link fence. The Akron police put out a description of the area to other jurisdictions.
The New Franklin Township police contacted the Akron police, and said that they had found a body. It was Samantha. The area where she was found was an exact match to what William had described.
The Convictions
The blood that had been found the house was in fact Samantha’s. The police were able to arrest Danny Hamby, Toni Kenney, Dylan Brown, and William Alexander.
Danny pled guilty to murder, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and having a weapon under disability. He was sentenced to 24 years to life in prison.
Toni was convicted of attempted kidnapping, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
William was convicted of attempted kidnapping, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to 10 years.
Dylan was sentenced to 5 years of probation for obstruction of justice.
Dylan Brown, William Alexander, Danny Hamby and Toni Kenney
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m still not clear what the exact motive was for murdering an 18 year old. However, it seemed like Danny and Toni thought they were badasses that could intimidate people. I believe that they intimidated Dylan into helping them, but I think William was more involved. He should’ve received a longer sentence.
Samantha had issues, but what teenagers don’t. She wanted her independence, and that’s understandable. Samantha ended up hanging out with the wrong people, and her life was taken away from her. My heart truly breaks for her parents who obviously loved her and were willing to help her.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/samantha-guthrie-murder-where-are-danny-hamby-and-toni-kenney-now/
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/courts/2019/09/30/akron-teen-s-killer-sentenced/2649416007/
