KETTERING — A man who stabbed his girlfriend to death before her body was found in a dumpster outside the apartment she lived in was sentenced to prison today after pleading guilty to murder and tampering with evidence.
Terrell Ross, 38, of Kettering, killed Sierra Woodfork, who was found wrapped in a blanket in the dumpster behind apartments in the 500 block of Aberdeen Avenue in January 2020.
Ross was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. He was sentenced to 15 years to life on the murder conviction, 36 months on each count of tampering with evidence, and 12 months on the count of gross abuse of a corpse, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
The sentences on the three counts of tampering with evidence will run concurrently and concurrently to the murder count.
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A day after Woodfork was found, police searched her apartment in the same block and found blood throughout. They also found a bloody knife, clothing and other items in the trash at the apartment, court documents read.
Police identified Terrel M. Ross, Woodfork’s “live-in boyfriend,” as their suspect.
Ross was taken into custody by Dayton police at the St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter as he was in the process of checking into the emergency shelter, officials said.
Ross had been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, three counts of tampering with evidence and a single count of gross abuse of a corpse.
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During an interview with Kettering police, Ross allegedly admitted to stabbing Woodfork several times six days before her body was discovered by a dumpster diver, according to Kettering court records.
Ross is accused of wrapping Woodfork’s body in a blanket and placing her in a closet while he continued to live in the apartment, court records read.
“Terrel stated when Sierra’s body began to smell he moved her body to the refrigerator located in the kitchen,” police wrote in court documents.
According to records, Ross then told police he waited several days to throw her body in the dumpster.
“During the interview Terrel stated he wrapped Sierra’s body with two scarfs and two phone charger cords to secure the blanket around her,” records read. “Terrel admitted to cleaning the apartment and fridge with hot water and towels before discarding his clothing, items he used to clean up the blood, and the knife he used to kill her, in the trash can located behind the apartment.”
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