Ohio man charged with killing his partner, a rising local drag artist who went missing last month​

Authorities in Ohio have charged the partner of a drag performer who went missing with murder.

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Canton Police arrested Daniel Mattay on charges of murder, felonious assault, strangulation, and domestic violence, according to Cleveland news station WOIO. That follows the June disappearance of Ryan Godbey.

“New evidence has led our agency to transition the case from a missing person to a homicide investigation. While Mr. Godbey has not yet been located, the new evidence makes it clear that he is deceased and that Mr. Mattay is responsible,” Police Chief John Gabbard told the local outlet.

Godbey’s family reported him missing on June 22, and the performer was last seen on June 19 at Darlin’s Crew, an LGBTQ+ venue where they regularly performed.

Jackie Godbey, Ryan’s mother, told a local Fox affiliate that city officials last week told her the investigation was now a homicide case, not a missing person case. Officials are continuing to search local water bodies.

“We just want to bring Ryan home,” she said.

She also said in the last two months, Godbey’s career as a drag performer was starting to take off, achieving a dream for the 26-year-old.

A text shared with the Silent Mother Project and reported on by an NBC affiliate showed Godbey had texted a friend on June 20, saying a live-in boyfriend was upset with them.

The disappearance prompted a community-wide search in Canton.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, there is help available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233. Other resources can be found here.