Logan Woman Found Strangled In Underground Septic Tank

Logan police say the body of Summer Inman was found Tuesday, hidden in an underground septic tank behind a small rural church.

Investigators located 25-year-old Summer's body just off U.S. 33 at about 8:15 p.m., according to Logan police.

The body was found intact and hidden in the septic system behind Faith Tabernacle Church less than a mile from the Hocking County line.

Logan police Chief Aaron Miller said the Athens County coroner later would release the cause of death but it appears Summer was killed quickly after she was abducted Tuesday, March 22.

Athens County Coroner Harold Thompson's preliminary ruling was that the cause of Summer Inman's death was strangulation, the Logan Daily News reported Wednesday. Thompson said the woman's wrists were bound with a zip tie and another zip tie was pulled tight around her neck.

PHOTO TIME LINE: Disappearance of Summer Inman

Tarps, police vehicles and fire trucks surrounded the scene near Wayne National Forest overnight Wednesday as agents, officers and deputies combed the area for evidence.

Police said Summer's state ID was found with her body.

What Led Police To The Church Septic Tank?

The Hocking County prosecutor said authorities negotiated with one of the three suspects in the kidnapping to obtain the location of Summer's body.

Police said 46-year-old Sandra Inman asked to speak with her attorney Monday and then provided her attorney with information on the location of Summer's body.

Sandra, her son 26-year-old William A. Inman Jr. and her husband 47-year-old William A. Inman Sr. were arrested on kidnapping charges on the evening of Thursday, March 24, in Jackson County.

The younger Inman is Summer's estranged husband. The elder Inman and Sandra are Summer's father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Eyewitness accounts indicated two males forced Summer into a vehicle outside Century National Bank in the area of Hunter and Market streets in Logan at about 11 p.m. Tuesday, March 22.

Police said they were not sure for how long or whether the abduction was pre-planned.

According to police, the younger Inman told authorities Wednesday, March 23, that he was in the Cleveland area with his parents at the time of Summer's kidnapping.

Investigators said they determined his alibi was false and a search warrant was executed. Police said significant evidence was found during the search and led to the arrest warrants.

Miller said evidence indicated all three suspects participated in the abduction, but he could not say if all three participated in the murder.

Details were released Monday, March 28, and Tuesday, March 29, about the alleged actions of the Inmans the morning after Summer's abduction.

Logan police said the trio first stopped at a car wash south of Cleveland and that surveillance footage shows the Inmans cleaning the interior and making changes to the appearance of their vehicle.

Investigators said the Inmans may have stopped at two separate car washes in the McConnelsville area prior to their arrival at the Cleveland-area car wash.

Police said three people believed to be the suspects also stopped at an auto shop in Cleveland between 10 and 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23.

Police said the elder Inman sold the tires that were on the vehicle, bought new tires and switched them on site before leaving.

Summer filed for a divorce from the younger Inman in June 2010. According to the divorce filing, the younger Inman threatened to kill her if she were to leave with the children. Summer also said in the complaint her husband would hide her car keys and cell phone and hold her captive inside their home.

Suspects Appear In Court

The younger Inman and his parents were transported to Southeastern Regional Jail.

The suspects were arraigned Wednesday afternoon and each pleaded not guilty to a charge of kidnapping and a charge of abduction.

Bond was set at $1 million each.

The prosecutor said additional charges may not be filed until the grand jury convenes in late April.

During her court appearance Wednesday, Sandra mouthed the words, 'I'm so sorry' to Summer's family.

"I don't believe it. I don't believe it. How can you sit there and do something like that to your in-laws, to your grandbabies' mother and turn around and say, 'I'm sorry?' There's no apology for that," said Misty Van Pelt, Summer's friend.

"They're saying now that she was dead when she was put in there. I'm really hoping so because the gasses in that really small chamber would definitely have to kill her and just the thought of knowing she would be in there alive is just horrible," said Sheila Miller, Summer's friend.

Church Pastor Talks To NBC4

King Kelly has been the pastor at Faith Tabernacle Church for 40 years and knew the Inman family.

Kelly said the Inmans attended services at the church and that Summer's in-laws were married there.

Kelly said the Inmans were involved in the church.

"Everybody that has talked to me from the church can't get over that he would come here to the church and did this," Kelly said.

In some ways, he said, he is not surprised because the elder Inman was familiar with the church's surroundings.

Kelly said church services will continue Wednesday night, but he said he feels he might not do much preaching.

"I'm more or less wanting to see what the people are thinking about, if people just want to testify or just talk," Kelly said.

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