Death of missing Mansfield man ruled a homicide

DAYTON — The death of a Mansfield man found in a vacant Dayton house Friday was ruled a homicide, according to Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger.

Todd Burkhart, 28, died from multiple gunshot wounds on Nov. 16.

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His body was found at a house on the corner of West Stewart Street and Wildwood Avenue.

Burkhart and his girlfriend, Kyla Hayton, 20, also of Mansfield, were reported missing earlier this month.

Hayton’s 2003 Toyota Corolla was found with a window broken out on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Dayton, prompting police to ask for help finding the couple.

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The car was found near the home where Burkhart’s body was discovered.

Police also found three 9mm shell casings on the ground near the car, but said they appeared old with “no evidence to suggest foul play.”

Items belonging to the couple, including clothes, were found outside the car and behind the vacant house in a wooded area.

Hayton has not been found at this time. She is five months pregnant, according to a flyer posted to the Missing Person from Ohio Facebook page.

Family told police that the couple dropped of Kyla’s daughter on Nov. 16 and were headed possibly to Dayton. Relatives told Mansfield police they may have been trying to get a gun in Dayton for protection, a report stated.