A tip concerning a Columbus man's vehicle led Delaware County sheriff's detectives to arrest him Tuesday in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found July 4 in a shallow grave in Alum Creek State Park.

John David Choe Bartholomew, 24, of the Northwest Side, was arrested and will be charged with murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in the death of Brittany McDowell, 28, of the West Side, according to the county sheriff's office.

McDowell's body was found by an officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources around 6:30 p.m. on July 4 while making rounds at the park. Her body was in a shallow grave not far from a pull-off spot near the 6400 block of state Route 37.

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An autopsy determined McDowell died after being shot multiple times.

"We are grateful to the media coverage that this story generated. We believe that it got the message out there because it led to the tip that led us to the vehicle," Delaware County Sheriff Russell Martin said.

Sheriff's detectives made contact with Bartholomew on Tuesday, and he surrendered to them around noon near his residence. Detectives then took Bartholomew to the nearby Perry Township police department offices, where they interviewed him, Martin said.

Statements made by Bartholomew, combined with evidence gathered, support the charges, Martin said. He would not elaborate on the evidence.

"The investigators are still drilling down on the case," Martin said.

It is believed that Bartholomew met McDowell somewhere in Franklin County on July 4 and that the fatal assault occurred on the same day, Martin said. Franklin County Municipal Court records show McDowell had convictions for solicitation, drug and other offenses.

"We believed that the homicide occurred elsewhere and the body was buried at Alum Creek," Martin said. "We don't have any reason to believe that he worked with anyone else."

Detectives have seized Bartholomew's vehicle and have obtained a search warrant to gather evidence.

A Delaware County Municipal Court judge set Bartholomew's bond at $1.5 million on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 19, court records show.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Delaware County sheriff's detectives at 740-833-2800.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

jwoods@dispatch.com

@Woodsnight