Columbus, OH

These Horrific Homicides Of Multiple Black Women Remained Unsolved In Columbus, Ohio: Part 3

The Vivid Faces of the Vanished

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Belva Copeland, Shaniqua Dawkins-Turner, Infhon'e Edwards, Jasmine Johnson, Kaykimia Ruffin, Olivia Kurtz, Osjahnique Giles, and Sade PaynePhoto byThe Ohio Attorney General's Office

The following unsolved homicides of these black women in Columbus, Ohio remain listed as unsolved on the Ohio Attorney General's website:

Osjahnique Eugia Nicole Giles- Case #3594

On December 14, 2020, the Columbus Police Department received a call about shots fired in the 6000 block of Livingston Avenue. When officers arrived at 6175 Livingston Avenue, they found 20-year-old Osjahnique Eugia Nicole Giles and a 16-year-old suffering from gunshot wounds. Osjahnique was transported to a local hospital where she died of her injuries at 11:30 pm.

Infhon’e Edwards - Case #3596

On December 10, 2020, a 27-year-old mother of three, Infhon’e Edwards, left her home in the Driving Park area of Columbus, Ohio, around 7:30 pm for an evening with friends. Her husband and children remained home while the doting mother enjoyed some time out.

At 2:30 am, the following morning, Infhon’e left a friend’s house and headed home.

She never made it.

Her husband tried to reach his wife multiple times by cell phone with no answer and on December 12, 2020, he filed a missing persons report with the Columbus Police Department.

Investigators discovered video footage showing her green Chevrolet Avalanche pulling into a parking lot behind an apartment building in the 2000 block of Winslow Drive around 5:30 am on December 11, 2020, about 3 hours after Infhon’e left the home of her friend. About one hour after the vehicle pulled up, a heavy-set man can be seen exiting the truck and walking away.

On December 14, 2020, authorities discovered the body of Infhon’e Edwards in the trunk of her vehicle.

Her case remains unsolved.

Jasmine Tajuana Johnson- Case #3597

On December 13, 2020, 28-year-old Jasmine Johnson walked out of her home to get something from her vehicle when she was gunned down in front of 1851 Republic Avenue on the north side of Columbus, Ohio. The Columbus Police Department received ShotSpotter information at 6:11 am. Officers located Jasmine, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound and medics transported her to Riverside Methodist Hospital where she was pronounced deceased at 6:45 pm.

Witnesses told officers someone drove down Republic Avenue, firing shots.

No one has been charged with her senseless murder.

“We did everything together. It is like they left me alone...she was my friend, she was my daughter,” her mother, Sharon Hayes-Westbrook, told ABC 6.

KayKimia Marie Ruffin- Case #3551

On June 1, 2020, Columbus Police officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Maryland Avenue about a shooting. There, they found 27-year-old KayKimia Ruffin suffering from a gunshot wound. KayKimia was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased at 7:55 pm.

Belva Ann Copeland- Case #3579

On September 9, 2020, Belva Copeland arrived at her apartment in the 1200 block of Marion Drive on the south side of Columbus, Ohio, with an unknown guest. According to witnesses, that person left her apartment the same evening. No one saw or heard from Belva afterward.

One month later, on October 14, 2020, the body of Belva Copeland was found inside her apartment.

The Franklin County Coroner discovered someone had stabbed her and ruled her death as a homicide

Olivia Maria Kurtz - Case #3629

Well-liked and widely loved, 16-year-old twin sister, Olivia Maria Kurtz, was a Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center student who had just been inducted into the Japanese National Honor Society.

On May 22, 2021, Olivia went to ride scooters in downtown Columbus, Ohio with her best friend. The pair were unaware there was an event in Bicentennial Park, located just a few blocks from Police Headquarters. That evening, officers received information about a shooting and found six victims suffering from gunshot wounds. They transported Olivia to Grant Medical Center, where she died from her injuries at 1:06 am on May 23, 2021.

Sade Payne- Case #3624

On April 8, 2021, a female called 911 at 5:21 am and stated there was a woman outside yelling and screaming. When officers from the Columbus Police Department arrived, they found 32-year-old Sade Payne suffering from a gunshot wound. They transported Sade to Riverside Methodist Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

“She was not the 54th homicide. She was a sister, she was a daughter, she was an entrepreneur. She was a leader, she graduated on the top of her class. She was much more than a number,” her friend, Ray Reggins, told ABC 6.

Her case remains unsolved.

Shaniqua Marcella Dawkins-Turner - Case# 3601

On January 11, 2021, a friend gave 29-year-old Shaniqua Marcella Turner a ride to 842 Leona Avenue. As Shaniqua walked up to the front door of the home, an unidentified assailant shoot her multiple times. Officers were called at 5:06 am and found Shaniqua in critical condition. They transported her to Grant Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead by physicians at 5:27 am.

Her case remains unsolved.

If you have any information on any of these unsolved homicides, please contact the Columbus Police Department homicide unit at 614- 645-4995 or Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or crimestoppers16038@gmail.com.

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