Columbus, Marion men arrested after missing Kenton resident found dead in Hardin County
Seth Rigdon's body was discovered along County Road 230 following a joint investigation that led detectives to Marion.
Two men are in custody after a missing persons investigation led authorities to the body of a 32-year-old Kenton man Thursday morning in rural Hardin County. Detectives from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kenton Police Department identified the suspects as Antonio Lennelle Smith of Columbus and James Eugene Roton Jr. of Marion.
Rigdon was reported missing by a family member on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 23, after not being seen for several days, according to Kenton police. Kenton police and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office immediately initiated an investigation that led detectives to Marion, Ohio. Working closely with the Marion Police Department, investigators arrested Smith and Roton during the operation.
As the investigation continued into the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 29, detectives were led to a rural area in the 21000 block of County Road 230 in Hardin County. At that location, detectives located the body of 32-year-old Rigdon.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office secured the rural area and requested the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist in the investigation. The Hardin County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hardin County Engineer’s Office and the Hardin County Coroner’s Office also assisted in the matter.
Both suspects are being held at the Marion Multi County Jail pending formal charges. Roton currently has conspiracy charges pending. The case remains under active investigation with no further details being released at this time.
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https://www.hometownstations.com/2026/10/29/body-missing-kenton-man-discovered-two-men-custody/
Supporting evidence (1)
Two men are in custody after a missing persons investigation led authorities to the body of a 32-year-old Kenton man Thursday morning in rural Hardin County.
Supporting evidence (10)
Detectives from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kenton Police Department identified the suspects as Antonio Lennelle Smith of Columbus and James Eugene Roton Jr. of Marion.
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An investigation was immediately initiated, leading detectives from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kenton Police Department to the city of Marion, Ohio. Working closely with detectives from the Marion Police Department, the investigation resulted in the arrest of two males: Antonio Lennelle Smith of Columbus, Ohio, and James Eugene Roton Jr. of Marion, Ohio.
Rigdon was reported missing by a family member on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 23, after not being seen for several days, according to Kenton police.
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On the afternoon of Friday, October 23, 2026, the Kenton Police Department responded to a report of a missing person within the city of Kenton. Seth Rigdon, a 32-year-old male from Kenton, Ohio, was reported missing by a family member after reportedly not being seen for several days.
Kenton police and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office immediately initiated an investigation that led detectives to Marion, Ohio.
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An investigation was immediately initiated, leading detectives from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kenton Police Department to the city of Marion, Ohio.
Working closely with the Marion Police Department, investigators arrested Smith and Roton during the operation.
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Working closely with detectives from the Marion Police Department, the investigation resulted in the arrest of two males: Antonio Lennelle Smith of Columbus, Ohio, and James Eugene Roton Jr. of Marion, Ohio.
As the investigation continued into the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 29, detectives were led to a rural area in the 21000 block of County Road 230 in Hardin County.
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As the investigation continued into the early morning hours of Thursday, October 29, detectives were led to a rural area located in the 21000 block of County Road 230 in Hardin County.
At that location, detectives located the body of 32-year-old Rigdon.
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In that area, detectives located the body of the missing person, 32-year-old Seth Rigdon.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office secured the rural area and requested the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist in the investigation.
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The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office secured the area, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was requested to assist in the investigation.
The Hardin County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hardin County Engineer’s Office and the Hardin County Coroner’s Office also assisted in the matter.
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Agencies that assisted in this matter were the Hardin County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hardin County Engineer’s Office and the Hardin Coroner’s Office.
Both suspects are being held at the Marion Multi County Jail pending formal charges.
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Both suspects in this case are currently being held at Marion Multi County Jail pending charges.
The case remains under active investigation with no further details being released at this time.
Read supporting passage
The case remains under active investigation. No further details are being released at this time.
Supporting evidence (1)
Roton currently has conspiracy charges pending.
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Roton currently has Conspiracy charges pending.