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Expert raises questions about fatal Huron County crash ruled an accident.Expert raises questions about fatal Huron County crash ruled an accident Crash reconstruction specialist analyzes 2018 crash that killed corrections officer found burned in truck HURON COUNTY, Ohio — Nearly eight years after Katelynn Shepard was found burned beyond recognition inside her own truck, her mother says the “accident” ruling doesn’t add up.A crash reconstruction expert is now taking a closer look at the case, and new documents obtained by 19 News reveal investigative details that have raised questions about what happened on a quiet Huron County road in July 2018.The crash It was just after 4:30 p.m.on July 9, 2018, when a man driving down Townline Road in Huron County spotted a burned-out truck in the woods.He called the sheriff’s department, not knowing the body of 21-year-old Katelynn Shepard was inside.Shepard was an Erie County corrections officer working to become a police officer when her pickup went off Townline Road, down an embankment and burned.She was just a few minutes from home.There were no witnesses.Ohio State Highway Patrol and Huron County Sheriff’s Office investigated.Highway Patrol closed their case, ruling it an accident.But records and pictures obtained by 19 News show troopers wrote they could not explain what caused the truck to leave the road or what started the fire.The documents show no skid marks, no sign of braking and no visible crash damage — just a truck destroyed by fire.Evidence questions Shepard’s mother, Tricia, said there are more inconsistencies.Shepard’s purse was left at home.Her burned cell phone was found in the bed of her truck, not the cab.Toxicology results were negative for alcohol.The coroner ruled Shepard’s death an accident from burns.Documents show investigators looked into Shepard’s boyfriend in the days after the crash.OSHP reports from 2018 identify him as a suspect.The report also reveals Shepard’s family told police the relationship was rocky and he was controlling.They said they tried to get Shepard to leave.Shepard’s co-workers told detectives the relationship was stressed and they thought it had ended.Documents show investigators obtained warrants for his home and phone.In one particular report, a photo was flagged by a detective, who said he noticed a suspicious stain on a stair landing.When investigators went back for a second look, they noted the carpet was gone.The report says it was pulled it out to prep the home for sale.The investigator’s conclusion: no evidence of violence found.19 News is not naming Shepard’s boyfriend because he has never been charged with a crime.His attorney sent a statement saying his client “categorically denies any involvement in the tragic death of Katelynn Shepard.” The attorney’s full statement said: “My client categorically denies any involvement in the tragic death of Katelynn Shepard on July 9, 2018.From the outset, he has fully cooperated with law enforcement and has consistently answered all questions asked of him.In the nearly eight years since Katelynn’s passing, he has never been charged with any crime in connection with her death.Katelynn’s passing was a devastating tragedy.My client grieved her loss then, and the weight of that grief remains with him to this day.Over the years, he has endured persistent speculation and accusations despite bearing no responsibility for the circumstances surrounding her death.While (he) understands the continued public interest in this matter, he will not engage in speculation or further commentary.Out of respect for Katelynn’s memory, her loved ones, and the seriousness of this tragedy, he has nothing further to add.” Investigation continues While Highway Patrol ruled the death an accident, the Huron County sheriff said their investigation is still active and open.Tricia Shepard has pushed for years for Huron County to bring in Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.Recently, Highway Patrol and Huron County officials met with Tricia to go over the case again.“I think it was staged,” Tricia said.“I think this whole accident was staged.” “I sit every night and I cry,” Tricia said.She keeps her daughter’s purse on her nightstand.“I have dreams about what really happened that night.” Expert analysis 19 News asked Eric Brown, a crash reconstruction expert, to look into Shepard’s crash.The Marine veteran has investigated more than 3,000 crashes nationwide.He trains officers across Ohio and is a subject matter expert for the Ohio Attorney General on crash investigations.Brown went to the spot where Katelynn’s truck was found on Townline Road.He sent up a drone to take pictures, took measurements and pulled the trooper’s diagrams, entering them into a specialized computer system.“It’s a predictive physics engine, so it predicts how things will move in a real world environment,” Brown said.“It won’t let you defy physics.” Brown’s model shows the path the truck took off Townline Road, down the embankment and into the woods, where a tree stopped it.“That’s what actually stopped the truck’s forward movement so it didn’t continue any further,” Brown said.Brown said the truck was traveling at 20 miles per hour or less.“She would have gone airborne if she was over 20.She would have spun out if she was going over 20,” Brown said.“Working this three different ways we’re getting speeds of 20 miles or less.We know it’s a low speed crash, which then also explains why we don’t see a large amount of crush damage to the front end.” Brown said there was no evidence of braking.“This would be more pronounced and grass would have been ripped out of the ground,” Brown said.Brown said the angle at which the truck entered the woods raised questions.“It’s not like she just drifted off the road and went into the woods and fell off the side of the ravine,” Brown said.“She actually had to make a steering input to get off the road in the direction she went.This is literally steering into the woods.” Brown said Shepard’s truck entered the woods through the only opening in the tree line.“That gap right there is literally the only gap.The rest is completely full of vegetation,” Brown said.Brown said there are three possible explanations.“One explanation would be that Katelynn placed it there, whether she did it knowingly, knowing that it would harm or kill her,” Brown said.“Or that yeah, somebody drove it there and drove it to the edge of the ravine and got out, released the parking brake put the vehicle in neutral and pushed it into the hill.Or third, that someone could have towed it there.” Brown looked for evidence of towing.But that evidence, he said, was lost the moment investigators pulled the truck from the ravine.Brown is not a fire investigator but said it is uncommon for a car to catch fire crashing under 20 miles per hour.He said it is also uncommon for someone to die in a crash at speeds under 20 miles per hour.When asked if there are enough red flags to have an agency like BCI take a closer look?Brown replied, “I would say, yes.I think there’s at least enough questions needing answers.” He questions, “Was it an accident?Was it inflicted by herself?Or was it foul play?” Tricia Shepard said the science deepens what she has always believed.“It wasn’t no accident,” she said.“She was going to be one of them,” Tricia said of her daughter’s dream to become a police officer.“And they’re just failing her in every way possible.” The purse stays on the nightstand.“My biggest question and plea is please let the BCI get involved,” Tricia said.“Please let a second set of eyes look at this.” The truck And one of the biggest questions in this case - where is Katelynn’s truck?Highway Patrol records show the 2004 F150 was turned over to Jensen Towing.But when we spoke to an owner of Jensen towing, she said she had no record of ever receiving the truck.Brown says it’s a critical piece of evidence.We reached out to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office for an interview.