Frederick Reer, 42, the boyfriend who had been facing charges in connection with Amanda Dean's death and disappearance, pleaded guilty on Monday to involuntary manslaughter.
According to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Reer also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse. All the charges are felonies.
“Proving a homicide without a body is the ultimate test of investigative and legal skill,” Attorney General Dave Yost said. “I’m proud of our team for taking on such a complex case and securing justice for Amanda and her loved ones.”
Reer was indicted last year on a murder charge and has been held in jail on a $1 million bond.
The Newburgh Heights Police Department provided a statement from the Dean family regarding the plea agreement:
On behalf of the family of Amanda Dean, her mother Caroline Tokar, sisters Shannon and Stephanie Dean, along with Amanda’s four sons, Joshua, Jacob, David, and Samuel, we want to thank Cleveland Missing, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, for their relentless efforts to bring justice for our beloved Amanda.
Today’s guilty plea was the next steps toward getting Amanda justice after a very long and painful process. The family extends their sincere appreciation to all who have offered prayers, support, and concern over the years. Your compassion has helped us in more ways than we can share.
We would also like to thank the Cleveland media outlets for their favorable and ongoing coverage of Amanda’s case.
We ask for privacy at this time while we continue to process today’s guilty plea.
Watch a report about the initial charges:
RELATED: Man arraigned for murder of girlfriend missing since 2017, given $1 million bond
Dean, a 36-year-old mother of four, was last seen on July 11, 2017, in Townsend Township.
The AG's Office said that the Ohio Bureau of Investigation "determined that Reer killed Dean inside a residence where the couple lived, then cleaned the crime scene and disposed of the evidence." Her body has never been found.
Reer has a sentencing date set for Jan. 5.
