David and Mary Dodson, Brittany’s parents, are lighting their candles at a memorial candle vigil to remember their daughter.
Rachel Adkins/The Ledger Independent
Brittany Stykes
Photo courtesy of Brittany Stykes Memorial & Case Facebook Page
A lantern is being released in remembrance of Brittany Stykes.
Rachel Adkins/The Ledger Independent
GEORGETOWN, Ohio — Brittany Stykes, a 22-year-old pregnant woman who was murdered on Highway 68 on Aug. 28, 2013, is still remembered after 10 years.
Stykes’ family still mourns her loss and remembers the woman she was before her death. Her father, David Dodson, said there is a memorial vigil held every year in remembrance of her at a cross placed where she died in Brown County.
He noted Stykes’ murder has never been solved and the killer remains free despite a decade since the crime occurred.
On her way to her parents’ house to celebrate her dad’s birthday, Stykes drove Highway 68. A few miles into her drive, five bullets were fired into Stykes’ car through the driver’s door and left her dead at the scene.
Aubree, Stykes’ daughter, was struck with a bullet through her frontal lobe, Dodson said. He said she was air cared to a children’s hospital for several surgeries after she was found by a bypasser on the highway.
Dodson noted the man who found his daughter and granddaughter on the side of the road had taken a wrong turn and was in the process of getting back to his correct route when he heard Aubree crying out for her mom in the car.
Aubree currently shows no recollection of what happened and only has a scar on her forehead where her gunshot wound was, Dodson said. He noted that she is “as smart as can be.”
“She’s doing wonderful,” he said. He added that Aubree is now 11-years-old.
He went on to discuss the lack of answers in finding Stykes’ killer and several leads in her case that never seem to “pan out.”
Since 2013, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office has been handling Stykes’ case, Dodson said. Detectives have said Stykes’ death was not an accident. Dodson noted a change in staff since the case opened.
After a new detective was assigned to Stykes’ case due to a staff change, Dodson and his wife have not had as much communication from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. He said the detective does not want to take the family on a “roller coaster” of emotions when new information comes to light.
Dodson noted the difficulty in remaining hopeful after 10 years.
“I’m kind of losing hope that this is ever gonna get solved,” Dodson said. “It’s a little harder now not knowing anything they’re (the detectives) working on.” He added that the loss of his daughter is “as rough today as it was 10 years ago” because there have been no answers as to who killed her.
After Stykes’ death, her family gathers every year to remember her at the location where she was killed. Last year, Dodson and his wife discussed not holding the memorial because of a lack of interest and attendance from the public.
His youngest daughter was not happy with the thought and made a post addressing the lack of attendance for her sister’s memorial, Dodson said. He noted the memorial had a “really good” amount of people that came that year.
“Brittany was an amazing daughter,” Dodson said. “I mean, even through high school she wanted mom and dad involved in everything she was doing.”
He noted that his daughter used to help her mother every Friday night in preparing for Farmer’s Markets the next day.
“She was very family oriented,” Dodson said. “Aubree was her world.”
Dodson went on to discuss Stykes’ impact on the world before and after her death.
“After all the podcasts and all the things we’ve done, I will say Brittany has touched a lot of people, even after she was gone,” Dodson said. He noted that he has been contacted by some people in Ireland and Ukraine regarding her case.
According to Dodson, there is a $50,000 reward for his daughter’s killer to be found. He said the reward was originally $20,000 but rose after the family did a podcast series on Culpable, a true crime podcast.
The people at the podcast gave $30,000 to the reward because they were touched by the case and Stykes’ story. Dodson said he was still surprised there are no answers or information on Stykes’ killer after 10 years.
“Even at $50,000, it’s like no one’s talking,” Dodson said when discussing the reward offered for the finding of Stykes’ killer.
Dodson and his family are still seeking answers on Stykes’ murder and hope her killer will be found soon. He noted the length of time that it’s been since the case first opened.
To report any information on Brittany Stykes’ murder, please call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 or the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 937-378-4435 extension 114.
To learn more about Brittany Stykes and see memories that have been shared since her death, please visit the Brittany Stykes Memorial & Case Facebook page.
