May 10, 2022- 9:53 a.m.
Colby Martin, 29, purposely hit Melody Rohrer, 67, with his car, killing her. He then engaged in sexual acts with her remains. Martin is currently awaiting trial.
Melody Rohrer was last seen between 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. on September 20, 2021, walking in the 84000 block of County Road 215, in Hamilton Township, Michigan.
Melody went for walk and when she did not return home her husband reported her missing. Police originally thought she may have been injured and needed help.
Police started searching for her.
Within a few hours later they located her remains in a wooded area. Investigators determined she was hit by a car at a different location and the driver brought her body to the woods to conceal it.
Police used surveillance footage to identify Colby Martin. On September 21, 2021, detectives spoke to Martin in the parking lot of a Walmart in Oshtemo Township.
When they approached him, his 2013 Ford F-150 had obvious damage to it. Upon searching Martin, detectives determined he was in possession of Melody’s cell phone.
Martin was originally charged with vehicular manslaughter, Failure to stop at a scene of a serious personal injury accident and concealing the death of an individual.
In January 2022, Martin violated the terms of his release when he was found with fentanyl in his system.
He was arrested and given an additional $75,000 bail. Martin paid this bail and was released again.
Investigators continued to look into Martin and discovered his search history showed he looked up pornography that depicted dead or unconscious woman and rape.
Police also found condoms that contained DNA belonging to Martin and Melody.
It was determined Martin hit Melody, put her in his truck and took her to an undisclosed location, where he had sexual intercourse with Melody’s body. He then put her body in the woods.
In light of the new evidence, on February 15, 2022 prosecutors changed the charges to open murder, homicide/manslaughter with a motor vehicle, failure to stop at the scene of accident resulting in death, and concealing the death of an individual.
Open murder means the prosecutor is waiting to decide what degree of murder to charge the defendant with.
Martin is being held without bond. His next court date is June 20, 2022, at 3:00 p.m.
