An Athens County family is now at the center of a homicide case that has gripped rural southeast Ohio, after a Meigs County grand jury yesterday indicted three relatives in connection with the death of 20-year-old Ethan Vernon. Vernon was last seen on Dec. 11, 2025, and his burned pickup truck was discovered the next day along Hemlock Grove Road in Bedford Township. Prosecutors say the indictments follow an extensive, months-long investigation. Officers arrested the suspects this week after serving a search warrant at an Athens County home. The accused are Sarah Haning, 24, Randy Haning, 65, and Beverly Haning, 63.
Grand Jury Levels Murder And Arson Counts
Meigs County Prosecutor James K. Stanley said the grand jury returned a slate of charges that includes murder, arson and gross abuse of a corpse. According to CBS Pittsburgh, the indictment lists 49 counts against Sarah Haning, 11 against Randy Haning and nine against Beverly Haning. The outlet reports that the prosecutor did not immediately release an official cause of death or describe the suspects' relationship to Vernon. Alongside the homicide and arson counts, the indictment also lays out multiple charges of obstructing justice and tampering with evidence.
Search Warrant At Pleasanton Road Home Precedes Arrests
Law enforcement officers arrested all three suspects on Wednesday after executing a search warrant at 10505 Pleasanton Road in Athens County, local station WTAP reports. Meigs County Sheriff Scott Fitch told the station the arrests were "the result of countless hours of work" and emphasized that the investigation is still active. According to WTAP, officials said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was processing the Pleasanton Road residence for additional evidence tied to the case.
Multi-Agency Effort And DNA Identification
Investigators say the case has drawn in multiple agencies, including the Meigs County Sheriff's Office and a Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio State Fire Marshal and several county coroner's offices, per WV News. WV News also reported that DNA testing conducted by the Ohio BCI earlier this year formally identified the remains recovered from the burned truck as Vernon's. Prosecutors said tips from community members helped move the investigation forward and that more information will be released as they are able to share it.
Charges Headed To Common Pleas Court
According to WSAZ, the cases against the three defendants will proceed in Meigs County Common Pleas Court before Judge Linda R. Warner, with arraignments and pretrial hearings still to be scheduled. WSAZ reports that Sarah Haning's 49-count indictment includes numerous obstructing-justice counts, along with arson, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, and one murder charge. Randy and Beverly Haning face smaller sets of related charges. All three defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court, and prosecutors have not yet announced any trial dates.
Community Grieves As Investigation Continues
Vernon's disappearance and death have weighed heavily on the community for months. Family and friends held a candlelight vigil in March on what would have been his 21st birthday, where his mother told WSAZ, "It hurts to see us be here for this reason, but I’m very grateful that so many people cared about him." Authorities are still asking anyone with information to contact the Meigs County Sheriff's Office tip line at 740-992-4682, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Investigators say the probe is ongoing and that additional details will be shared as the case moves forward.
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