Laron Ray Hodges, 39, of Omaha was last seen by family on February 2, 2023; a missing-person report followed on February 7. Investigators later found Hodges’ vehicle at a private impound lot in Omaha and discovered his body hidden inside. An investigation determined he died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Court filings and testimony outline an alleged sequence of events: prosecutors say Hodges was invited to a residence in early February, was sitting on the bed when he was shot multiple times, and that his body was stripped of clothing, placed in his vehicle and the vehicle moved to the impound lot where it was recovered. Authorities say the motive in the killing was money.

Charges announced in 2023 connected several people to the death. In August, a 42-year-old, Kenneth Smith, was arrested on accessory to first-degree murder charges; in October, a 41-year-old, Erika Mims, was charged with first-degree murder in Hodges’ death. Prosecutors have also tied Mims to two other shootings from 2022, and another person, Erykha Wilson, was charged as an accessory accused of helping dispose of weapons. Anyone with information about Hodges or his last known movements is asked to come forward.