Discovering her husband having a relationship with another woman and may have impregnated her, Whitney Lynn Hostler was extremely angry and planned to take her child to live with her own mother. But before she could do so, she lost her life.
A Happy Life
Whitney Lynn Hostler was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, USA on July 27, 1995. After her parents divorced when Whitney was just 2 years old, she and her older sister Chelsea lived with their father. In her teenage years, Whitney went to live with her mother.
Whitney was described as sharp and having a strong personality. She was very creative, enjoying drawing, makeup, and styling her hair in many different ways.
At age 15, Whitney started being interested in boyfriends. Whitney later dated a young man named Randy Rider.
In 2017, at 22 years old, Whitney discovered she was pregnant. Her family was overjoyed for her. Whitney decided to move to St. Paris, Ohio with Randy and find work there.
When the couple’s daughter was born in the summer of 2018, Whitney and Randy moved in with Randy’s parents Rodney Sr Rider and Valerie Rider. Additionally, Randy’s brother Rodney Jr was also living there.
Rodney Sr and Valerie were both retired and could help care for their granddaughter. Whitney also became very close with Randy’s family members. The young mother seemed to have a rather happy life.
But then around midnight on October 1, 2020, Randy showed up at the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office reporting that Whitney had gone missing.
Mysterious Disappearance
Randy said there had been an argument between Whitney and his mother around 11 am on September 30th. Randy said he then left the house while the argument continued. He spent that entire day away from home hanging out with friends. Also from that point on, he had not received any word from Whitney nor been able to contact her.
The police immediately went to Randy’s home to investigate. Rodney Jr was the one who opened the door and told officers he was the only one home. Rodney Jr said his parents had left a few hours earlier with their 2-year-old granddaughter to scout new hunting grounds.
As police were talking to Rodney Jr, a white pickup truck arrived. Inside were Rodney Sr, Valerie, and their granddaughter.
The Trash Bags in the Truck
When asked by police about the last time she saw Whitney Lynn Hostler, her mother-in-law Valerie Rider stated that Whitney had been picked up by a tan-colored car in the early afternoon of September 30, 2020. Valerie said she later received a text from Whitney saying she would be gone for a while.
However, police were highly skeptical of this story. They walked around the pickup truck that Valerie and her husband Rodney Sr Rider had just driven back in, shining flashlights and looking inside.
Underneath the truck, police saw trash bags stuffed full of fiberfill and taped shut. When they opened the trash bags, they found blonde hair strands stuck in the tape. Investigators immediately had an uneasy feeling. Whitney was a blonde woman.
Police also found a three-wheel dolly covered in wet mud, a green rubber glove, and a woman’s flip-flop. Inside the home, they discovered a nearly depleted roll of tape next to Randy and Whitney’s bed.
The Rider family members were promptly brought to the sheriff’s office for questioning.
Suspect Stories
Rodney Jr – Valerie’s older son was questioned first. However, police quickly realized this man was not involved in the disappearance. He had only seen Whitney early morning on September 30th before going to work all day.
Valerie maintained she had been cleaning that day. The hair strands and tape were from her grandchildren. Rodney Jr backed up his mother’s story, saying his daughter was going through hair loss.
The woman also said that after her younger son Randy Rider left, Whitney packed up her belongings and left with a friend, leaving her daughter behind.
Valerie appeared quite calm throughout the lengthy interview. But her husband Rodney Sr was the opposite, often getting flustered and at one point starting to breathe rapidly.
Rodney Sr said he didn’t know much about the altercation between his wife and Whitney, only that the two had argued and cursed at each other. The man stated that Whitney had discovered Randy was “in bed” with another woman and may have impregnated her. Whitney said she was taking their daughter to live with her own mother.
Valerie said she had tried to calm Whitney down but she remained extremely angry. Finally, around 11:30 am on September 30th, Whitney left the home. Both Valerie and Rodney Sr denied harming Whitney.
Randy Rider was questioned again about what happened the day his wife went missing. This man provided further crucial details surrounding Whitney’s threat to take their daughter and leave.
The Heated Argument
Randy Rider was questioned again about what happened the day his wife Whitney Lynn Hostler went missing. This man provided further crucial details.
Randy said Whitney stated she would take him to court and demand child support payments. Along with that, she threatened to take their daughter away so Randy would never be able to see her again. “Whitney said she hated my family and we were disgusting,” Randy claimed.
Randy admitted not being around their daughter anymore would be a crushing blow to his parents Valerie Rider and Rodney Sr Rider. Up until then, they had been the primary caregivers for the little girl.
According to Randy, his parents pretty much always had their granddaughter with them. “My daughter regularly slept in the same room as my parents. Their whole world revolved around her,” Randy said.
Randy stated at the time Whitney was arguing with his mother, he heard noises coming from his bedroom and then complete silence. Seconds later, Rodney Sr stepped out of the bedroom and told his son to go somewhere for a few days and stay in touch with the family.
While suspicious, police had no concrete evidence that a crime had been committed. Rodney Sr, Valerie, and Randy were all eventually released.
Body in the Ravine
Meanwhile, Whitney’s own family was also notified of her disappearance. They maintained there was no way Whitney would have left without taking her daughter and without telling them where she was going.
According to Whitney’s mother and sister, after having her baby, she struggled with postpartum depression caring for the child. They also said Whitney had many issues with Valerie Rider and Rodney Sr Rider. Whitney had actually planned to move out of their home into her own apartment with just her daughter on the day she vanished. But Whitney never showed up.
“Whitney had problems with Valerie, to the point where Whitney was trying to get custody of her own daughter,” said Kimberly Long, Whitney’s mother. “Valerie wanted to keep the granddaughter for herself. At one point, she even wanted Whitney and Randy to sign a contract so she could raise the baby.”
On the afternoon of October 1st, 2020, a man called 911 reporting he had just discovered the body of a woman lying face down at the bottom of a heavily wooded ravine near Kiser Lake.
The victim was positively identified as the missing woman – Whitney Hostler. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death was strangulation. The victim had ligature marks around her neck and petechial hemorrhaging in her eyes.
Authorities determined Whitney had been killed elsewhere and her body was transported to this location to be dumped. A bloodied wooden stick was also found near the remains.
Rodney Sr and Valerie Rider were promptly brought back in for more questioning.
The Fateful Afternoon
After Whitney Lynn Hostler’s body was discovered at the bottom of a heavily wooded ravine near Kiser Lake, authorities determined the victim had been killed elsewhere and her body was transported to this location to be dumped. Husband and wife Valerie Rider and Rodney Sr Rider were promptly brought back in for more questioning.
Police started with Rodney Sr since this man had always appeared anxious during prior interviews. Rodney Sr was shown some crime scene photos of the victim. The investigator then asked if he knew who killed Whitney. Finally, the man stated that his wife Valerie knew and admitted she was the one who murdered Whitney.
Rodney Sr said he had been napping when awoken by the argument between Valerie and Whitney. When he went into son Randy Rider’s bedroom, Rodney Sr saw Whitney lying on the bed with a plastic bag over her head and Valerie standing beside her.
Rodney Sr stated Valerie had used a trash bag to wrap up Whitney’s body. He did not help his wife do this but admitted he then assisted in carrying Whitney’s body outside and loading it into the pickup truck.
The couple drove around trying to find a place to dump the body. Rodney Sr said taking Whitney to Kiser Lake was Valerie’s idea. During this whole time, Whitney’s young daughter was in the vehicle with her grandparents.
The Deadly Rage
Faced with the evidence and her husband’s statement, Valerie confessed to the crime. The woman said that while arguing, she wrapped her arm around Whitney’s neck as the other woman was also trying to fight back. Valerie said she may have squeezed too hard and suddenly realized Whitney had stopped breathing. Valerie stated she flew into a rage at the thought of never seeing her granddaughter again.
Valerie and Rodney Sr were arrested and charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. At this point, police started receiving many calls alleging Randy was actually the real killer. But Randy cooperated and passed a polygraph test.
In December 2020, Rodney Sr agreed to a plea deal admitting to possession of criminal tools, obstructing justice, and tampering with evidence. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison.
Valerie’s trial began in February 2021. Valerie’s defense claimed Randy was truly the murderer. Valerie also testified she killed Whitney to protect her son.
Prosecutors presented evidence from the interview with Rodney Sr and Valerie’s prior confessions. Additionally, DNA testing on the green rubber glove found in the truck matched both Valerie’s and Whitney’s DNA.
On February 25, 2021, Valerie was convicted of murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 21 years. Whitney’s sister was granted custody of her and Randy’s daughter.
