Brylan Wade Butcher was 14 and from Chillicothe, Ohio. He ran away from the Abraxas youth treatment facility in Richland County on February 20, 2022, and his body was found in an alley in Columbus’ Hilltop neighborhood on March 5, 2022. He was pronounced dead at the scene; the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators say surveillance footage shows two suspects with Brylan shortly before the shooting. One of those suspects, 21-year-old Justice Vereen, was arrested on January 30, 2024, and charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence; Vereen admitted being present during the shooting but denied taking part in the killing. The second suspect remains at large and the investigation is ongoing.

Brylan’s family remembered him as a vibrant, caring boy who enjoyed basketball, football, fishing and swimming. If anyone has information about Brylan’s death or the person still at large, please share what you know with investigators.