An Ohio man has been charged with the murder of his former partner, a local drag performer who has been missing since June 19.

As WOIO reports, 33-year-old Daniel Mattay of Canton, Ohio, was arraigned Monday morning and charged with murder, felonious assault, strangulation, and domestic violence connected with the disappearance of 26-year-old Ryan Godbey.

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Godbey, whose pronouns are they/them, was last seen on Thursday, June 19, at Darlin’s Crew, an LGBTQ+ venue where they were set to perform the following weekend. Local NBC affiliate WKYC reported that the last known contact Godbey had with anyone was shortly after midnight on June 20, when they texted friends that their live-in boyfriend was upset with them.

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According to WOIO, court records indicate Mattay and Godbey lived together. Godbey’s mother told WKYC that there were signs of a struggle in their apartment and that Godbey had left behind their epilepsy medication and their cats.

Godbey’s family reported them missing on June 22. Mattay was arrested two days later and initially charged with drug possession and trespassing, according to WOIO.

But in a July 4 statement, Canton Police Chief John Gabbard said that “new evidence” had led the agency “to transition the case from a missing person to a homicide investigation.” Gabbard said that while Godbey had not been located, the new evidence had made it clear that they were deceased and that Mattay was “responsible.”

Canton Mayor William Sherer also released a statement last week explaining that he had personally called Godbey’s mother to offer his condolences after it was announced that Mattay would be charged with her child’s murder.

“While this is a monumental development in this case, and one step towards justice, it’s heartbreaking. That’s a phone call no mother deserves to receive,” Sherer wrote. He also urged anyone with information that might help authorities in locating Godbey to call the Canton Police Detective Bureau at 330-489-3144.

“I also want to take this time to make one thing clear,” Sherer added. “EVERYONE in this community deserves justice. I don’t care about their orientation, ethnicity, sex, or who they love. Our differences are what make Canton special.”

During Mattay’s arraignment Monday, Canton Municipal Court Judge Dennis Barr increased his bond from $1 million to $1.5 million, noting that Mattay had attempted to escape the Stark County Jail where he is being held. A pretrial hearing is set for July 11.

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