April 28: On May 4, a 24-year-old man was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge after turning himself in to Springfield police for the murder of a homeless woman, Tyla Elane Rhodelander, 44, near E. Chestnut Expressway. Although arraigned, the man did not confess to the crime.

According to the statement filed by the police, Michael Humphrey called the police and reported his nephew, Aaron Letterman, had killed someone and could lead them to the body. According to Humphrey’s statement, he and Letterman met Rhodelander near the cemetery on April 28. Rhodelander told the men she was homeless and the two men helped her to carry her personal belongings and a tent to the wooded area. After setting up her tent, Humphrey said they talked and listened to music for several hours.

Humphrey said Letterman wanted to have sex with Rhodelander and followed her into her tent. After a few minutes, Humphrey said Letterman retrieved a hatchet from outside of the tent, hit Rhodelander in the head and continued to strike her. The medical examiner declared she died from a trauma to the head.