Rosalba Silvana Ricchio

Friend held in northern Indiana woman's slaying

KENTLAND — A Jasper County woman whose body was found buried on an abandoned Newton County farm died after her throat was cut by a shovel.

That’s according to Newton County Prosecutor Ed Barce, whose office has filed felony charges against three men in the death of Rosalba Silvana (Sylvia) Ricchio, 54.

What we believe happened is that they pushed her to the ground and held a shovel to her throat, he said. Someone then stepped on the shovel. It was a horrible death.

As of Friday, Ricchio’s sometimes-tenant, Aaron Flynn, 26, of Sumava Heights is the only person who’s been charged with murder in connection with her death. Chris Henderson, 30, and Matthew Henderson, 23, who are cousins, are each charged with assisting a criminal, a Class C felony.brbrThe Hendersons are accused of helping Flynn hide Ricchio’s body. All three appeared Friday morning before a Newton County judge and entered pleas of not guilty, Barce said. Flynn and Matthew Henderson were appointed public defenders.

Christopher Henderson is being represented by Morocco attorney Daniel Blaney, a longtime friend of Henderson’s family. "I’ve known his mother and father for a number of years. Right now, I do not know a lot of details about the case," Blaney said Friday. "We’re going to do our own investigation and see what can be done to get Chris out of jail."

Ricchio’s body was found this past Sunday on abandoned farm property in northern Newton County. The Wheatfield Township woman had been missing since March 9. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department began investigating on March 11 after finding Ricchio’s home in disarray.

Charges were filed in Newton County because investigators believe Ricchio was killed on or near the farm property where her body was buried. Information from Flynn led investigators to the shallow grave off Newton County Road 75 West. Barce said investigators are still trying to determine when Ricchio was killed.