Dayton man formally charged in deaths of missing Mansfield couple, unborn child

A Dayton man is now formally charged on 19 felonies in the deaths of Todd Burkhart, Kyla Hayton and her unborn child last November.

Larry Rodgers, 31, was indicted by a grand jury on multiple murder counts and other charges, according to the document filed in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court  on Tuesday.

The bodies of Todd Burkhart and his pregnant girlfriend, Kyla Hayton, were found in different vacant houses on West Stewart Street in Dayton. They were reported missing Nov. 16.

Rodgers is charged as follows in the indictment:

• Aggravated murder: 4 counts
• Murder: 4 counts
• Kidnapping: 4 counts
• Felonious assault: 4 counts
• Involuntary manslaughter: 2 counts
• Having weapons as a felon (under disability): 1 count

Hayton and Burkhart were shot to death.

Prosecutors said the involuntary manslaughter charges are in connection to Hayton’s unborn baby.

As part of the investigation into the double homicide, detectives searched a house on Groveland Avenue where police found a .40 caliber handgun, the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office stated.

In December, a county grand jury indicted Rodgers for one count of having weapons while under disability (as a felon). Rodgers previously was convicted of a felony offense of violence, so he is not allowed to have a firearm, the prosecutor’s office said.

Prosecutors did announce Tuesday that ballistic tests determined the same gun was used to kill both victims. However, it is not clear if the .40 caliber handgun was used in the homicides.

At the time of Rodgers’ arrest last year, police said he was the sole person of interest in the case.

Rodgers is expected to be arraigned on the new charges Thursday morning.