Man pleads guilty to murdering his girlfriend, dismembering her and hiding her remains in the freezer for six months
- Arturo Novoa, 33, hid his girlfriend's body in a freezer while living with another woman, 36, who then allegedly assumed her identity
- Shannon Graves, 28, was last seen in February 2017 and reported missing in June
- Her boyfriend, Novoa along with Katrina Layton, 36, hid her body inside of a freezer that he stored in the landlord's basement
- Novoa and Layton were using Graves' apartment, using her car and credit cards
An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to murder, corpse abuse and other charges in the killing and dismemberment of his former girlfriend, whose remains were found in a freezer.
Arturo Novoa, 33, entered his pleas Thursday on dozens of felony counts in the Youngstown-area case.
Novoa was charged in the slaying of 28-year-old Shannon Graves, whose limbs were found in July 2017 in a freezer at a property in Campbell, just outside Youngstown.
Novoa (left), 33, pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend and storing her in the freezer. Katrina Layton (right), 36, was also arrested by Youngstown police for helping aide Novoa
Shannon Graves (above), 28, was last seen alive in February 2017 and was the girlfriend to 33-year-old Novoa
She was was last seen alive in February 2017 and was Novoa's girlfriend.
Graves was struck in the head several times with a heavy object before Novoa dismembered her body and placed her remains in trash bags which he then stored in a freezer in the basement.
Novoa also burned the torso and skull of Graves by pouring sulfuric acid on them.
Novoa's sentencing is scheduled for June 14 where he expected to be jailed for life.
Youngstown Prosecutor Dana Lantz said Novoa was living in Graves' apartment with Katrina Layton, 36, who allegedly began driving Graves' car, caring for her dog and even using her cell phone
Novoa asked his landlord if he could move the freezer down to the landlord's basement because his electricity had been shut off and 'he didn't want his freezer full of meat to spoil,' at the property located in Campbell, WFMJ reported.
The freezer was padlocked which made the landlord's wife suspicious about its contents.
She discovered Graves' remains inside several trash bags. She then called the police.
Graves, 28, had been added to the Ohio Attorney General's Missing Persons' website months earlier after concerns about her well-being. She had missed her own birthday, Easter, and Father's Day.
Arturo Novoa, 33, pleaded guilty to hiding his girlfriend's body in a freezer while living with Katrina Layton, 36, who then allegedly assumed her identity
Novoa and Katrina Layton, 36, hid the body in a freezer stored in the landlord's basement
Novoa was charged in the death of Graves, his one-time girlfriend, two years ago on Youngstown's west side
'Basically, Miss Layton moved in with Mr. Novoa and started living her life,' prosecutor Dana Lantz said. 'She didn't hold herself out to be Shannon, she just lived her life, using her phone, caring for her dog.'
'Shannon's friends called her Starr and descried her as having a heart of gold, an angel on earth, supportive, outgoing, thoughtful and fun,' Graves sister, Debbie DePaul, told WFMJ.
'Shannon has been missed and will always be missed. You can't replace a spirit like hers. She is loved by so many.'
She said at the time that it was unlike her sister to be gone for so long without contacting them.
DePaul is thankful Novoa will pay for his crimes. 'I'm happy with as much time as he can get in prison. The way we started and where we are today, it's just by the grace of God, but her (Shannon Graves) hands have been in it.'
In a related case, prosecutors are asking a judge to vacate a plea deal for Layton who has been charged with helping hide the remains.
Layton told police she bought the freezer from a Walmart store in early July, and supplied the extension cord to plug it in at Novoa's building.
Layton has admitted to witnessing the murder, and then allowing Graves' body to be dismembered in her garage. She even admitted to helping move the body.
Prosecutors now allege she lied to investigators and ultimately violated any kind of plea deal that had previously been agreed.
Graves' dismembered body was found months later, stuffed into a freezer at a home in Campbell, Ohio
Graves, 28, was added to the Ohio Missing Persons' website in July 2017 after concerns about her well-being since she missed her birthday, Easter, and Father's Day
