Paighton Houston Case: Man Accused Of Burying Body Arrested

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A man charged in connection with the disappearance of 27-year-old Trussville resident Paighton Houston has been captured. Fredrick Hampton, who is charged with abuse of a corpse — not with Houston's death — was captured Wednesday night by U.S. Marshals in Cleveland, according to the U.S. Marshal's office.

A report by WOIO in Cleveland said Hampton was arrested at the home of a family member in Garfield Heights. The report said marshals had to force their way into the home to make the arrest.

Hampton is being held in Cuyahoga County Jail awaiting transfer to Jefferson County.

Deputy Chief David Agee of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said the department has evidence that Houston and Hampton were together the night Houston disappeared Dec. 20. Agee said Hampton is a registered sex offender, and is also being charged with violating sex offender registration laws.

U.S. Attorney Jay Town praised the joint efforts of the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. "Our thanks to the USMS in Cleveland and the leadership of (U.S. Attorney) Justin Herdman for the partnership that has proven time and again to yield positive results," Town said in a statement.

Houston, who disappeared Dec. 20, was found buried in a shallow grave next to an abandoned home in Hueytown Jan. 3. An autopsy could not determine the cause of death, but toxicology examinations revealed Houston died from an accidental drug overdose.

Houston was reported missing after she was reportedly seen leaving the Tin Roof, a bar in Birmingham's Lakeview district, with two unidentified men. Houston also is said to have texted a co-worker saying she was in trouble that night.

Agee added that Hampton knew the area in which Houston's body was found, and that the property where Houston was found was owned by a relative of Hampton's.