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Police identify woman found dead at Rumpke landfill, boyfriend charged with her murder

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GEORGETOWN, Ohio — A body of a woman connected to a homicide case being investigated by Columbus Police was found at a Brown County Rumpke landfill Wednesday afternoon, Lt. Wayde Spears with the Columbus Police Department said.

On Thursday, police announced the woman found dead is Renee Benedetti; roughly two and a half weeks ago, investigators said they learned Benedetti's body was put into a dumpster, which led them to the landfill near Georgetown, Ohio.

Columbus police said they have arrested Gene Scott Jr., Benedetti's boyfriend. He was initially found in Kentucky and charged with having weapons under disability — though now he faces a murder charge as well, police said.

Amanda Pratt, the director of corporate communications for Rumpke, said they are working in cooperation with multiple law enforcement agencies.

"Right now the site is clear," Pratt said. "But as I understand, the Columbus Police Department will be hosting a press conference (Thursday) morning with more details."

Pratt said Rumpke was alerted to the possibility of a body in the landfill — which serves about a 60-mile radius — and was helping in the investigation. Spears said Columbus police have been searching the landfill for several weeks after information from the investigation led them to the location.

"Every situation is different," Pratt said. "For this instance, and any, we might just get a call with some details and then we can have our safety team engage directly with law enforcement. If we can provide assistance, then we definitely try to do so."

The Brown County Sheriff's Office said Columbus police also contacted them about the investigation and search efforts at Rumpke. Sheriff Gordon Ellis said the investigation is being conducted by the Columbus Division of Police and no other information will come from Brown County.

The identity of the woman found has not been released, but police said it could be connected to a woman who went missing around Feb. 1 in Columbus.

Pratt said the body was found in a separate location than where current disposal was being placed, so operations at the Rumpke, which is located on Beyers Road in Georgetown, weren't halted.

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