RUTLAND, Ohio — An 18-year-old Amish man has been charged with murder following the suspicious death of Rosanna Kinsinger, 28, who was found dead in her home nearly two months ago. Authorities say the suspect, Samuel Hochstetler, claimed she died during a sexual encounter.
Kinsinger’s body was discovered on March 13 by her neighbor and roommate, Mose Troyer, who called 911 after becoming concerned that no one in their tight-knit Amish community had seen her that day. “I found her goat inside the house, and that was when I knew something was wrong,” Troyer told WSAZ.
Her death was immediately labeled suspicious by the Meigs County Coroner’s Office, prompting a full-scale investigation. An autopsy by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office returned inconclusive preliminary results, pushing the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to pursue further interviews, search warrants, and scene analysis.
The case took a dramatic turn on May 5, when Hochstetler—who had been living with Troyer for several months—was taken in for questioning. According to a criminal complaint obtained by TooFab, Hochstetler allegedly admitted to deputies that he was having sexual intercourse with Kinsinger and placed a blanket over her head during the act. He claimed he realized she was no longer alive only after rolling her over.
Authorities arrested Hochstetler shortly afterward and charged him with first-degree murder. He is currently being held in the Gallia County Jail on a $1 million bond, with a preliminary hearing set for Tuesday, May 13.
Troyer, still shaken by the discovery, expressed disbelief at having unknowingly shared a home for weeks with the man now accused of murder. “I wish I could ask him why,” he said in a statement to local media.
Meigs County Sheriff Scott Fitch called the case a devastating loss for the community. “Rosanna was a beloved individual in her community,” he said. “Detectives worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, and we hope this investigation brings some measure of closure to her family. Our thoughts remain with them.”
Officials said Hochstetler had moved to Meigs County from another Amish community in Kentucky in the fall of 2024, according to NBC affiliate WTAP.
The investigation remains ongoing as the community mourns the tragic and deeply unsettling loss.
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