CANTON, Ohio — A community is grieving in Stark County, and a 33-year-old man is in jail, charged with murder.
Canton police announced late Thursday that the disappearance of Ryan Godbey is now a homicide investigation. They’ve charged Daniel Mattay, Ryan’s former boyfriend, 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. Gabbard stated that Godbey has not yet been located, but new evidence makes it clear that Godbey "is deceased and that Mr. Mattay is responsible.”
The police department did not reveal details about the new evidence. Mattay is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Monday in Canton Municipal Court.
RELATED: Bond set at $1.5 million for man accused of killing Ryan Godbey
On Friday afternoon, Ryan’s friends and family said they’d been dreading this news.
Now they have some clarity. But they’re still waiting on closure.
“This is a mother’s worst nightmare,” Jackie Godbey, Ryan’s mother, said during an interview at a Massillon park that’s filled with family memories.
“I will not stop until I know that justice is served,” she said. “And I trust and I believe in the Canton law enforcement, the Canton detectives. I believe in them and the families, the friends, the volunteers, the community. We’re strong. And we’re going to see this through. ’Cause we still want to bring Ryan home.”
Ryan, 26, was last seen June 19 at a Canton LGBTQ bar called Darlin’s Crew.
Family members and friends said Ryan and Mattay were dating but had just split up.
Canton Municipal Court records show Mattay had past convictions for domestic violence and disorderly conduct. He was arrested June 24 and initially charged with drug possession and trespassing.
“I’m at a loss for words right now,” said Victoria Menches, a longtime friend.
She said Ryan radiated love – and was a superstar on stage, performing in drag as JJ, with impeccable makeup and long blond hair.
To Dakota Rosier, who performs as Jade X, Ryan will always be JJ.
The friends met through drag and bonded over the last year.
“To have this happen so close to home, and with somebody that I was so close with, it is so gut-wrenchingly painful,” Rosier said. “Because it’s just, it’s just the reality that a lot of queer people live. … It’s heartbreaking.”
Rosier hoped to feature JJ in a show in December. Now she plans to turn the whole event into a tribute to her friend.
“Today, she’s been everywhere that I look. Literally in everything,” Rosier said. “This sounds so stupid, but I was stoning an outfit last night and I was crying over her. And … I picked up a rhinestone and it fell exactly right where I was about to place it. And I just was like, ‘thank you sister. Thank you for helping me, girl.’ … I’ll always remember her.”
Ryan’s mother brought a favorite picture to the park on Friday. In it, Ryan is dressed up – and made up – for senior prom, blowing a cloud of glitter at the camera.
“He shined then,” Jackie Godbey said. “And he’ll continue to shine on.”
She’s been amazed by the outpouring of support from the community, including people who have driven to Canton from hours away to help search for Ryan. She hopes that the search will be finished soon, though the legal process is just getting started.
And she hopes love – all that warmth and sparkle – is Ryan’s legacy.
“Everybody has one life to live,” she said. “Let people live that life and let them be who they are – what they want to be. And let them live their dreams. If we all had the courage that Ryan did, to come out and say ‘this is who I am, this is my life, this is my dream,’ we would have a lot better world.”
Canton police said the investigation is still ongoing and asked anyone with information about the case to call the communications department at 330-489-3144 or the detective bureau at 330-489-3144.
Anonymous tips can go to Tip411 or Stark County Crime Stoppers.
Canton Mayor William Sherer released a statement about the case Friday:
Since reporting Ryan missing on June 22, family and friends posted more than 100 flyers on trees, telephone poles and buildings in the Canton area.
RELATED: Flyers posted around Canton as concern grows over missing man, Ryan Godbey
