Arrest made in case of mom found shot in car

Dayton police have arrested a person of interest in the homicide of Brittany Russell, a Middletown mother found shot to death in a car with her 6-month-old daughter in the backseat.

Russell, 29, was found Wednesday morning in Dayton, Ohio, slumped over the steering wheel of her car parked in the lot of Twin Manor Apartments. Her 6-month-old daughter was found unharmed in the back seat, police said the running car heater kept the infant alive through the cold morning.

Dayton PD: Running car kept baby alive

Dayton police identified Curtis Burdette, 37, as a person of interest in the homicide case on Friday and located him in a Harrison Township home that night. Sgt. Richard Blommel said investigators were led to Burdette after conducting interviews with others.

Burdette, who was found in possession of drugs, knew Russell, Blommel said. Middletown police previously said Russell had a drug history but witnesses said she had been clean recently.

Burdette was taken into custody without incident and is facing felony drug charges, Blommel said. Police plan to meet with the Montgomery County Prosecutor to discuss additional charges, he said.

Dayton police are leading the ongoing homicide investigation with assistance from Middletown police.

Burdette is being held in the Montgomery County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.