Current Location of John Carter: Insights Ahead of Dateline NBC Feature

The premiere of **Dateline’s 33rd season** is poised to delve into the **murder of Katelyn Markham** and the role played by **John Carter**. This chilling case dates back to **2011**, and it took over ten years for justice to be served. Despite the arrest of **Katelyn’s fiancé**, the outcome was far from satisfactory for her grieving family.

**Dateline season 33 episode 1**, titled **The Butterfly**, will provide an in-depth exploration of this case when it airs on **NBC at 9:00 PM EST**. The episode synopsis states:

“A young Ohio woman vanishes one summer night, prompting her community to conduct a massive search. When she’s found dead, investigators work to uncover her killer.”

Nearly ten years after Katelyn’s disappearance, John Carter was charged with her murder based on circumstantial evidence. He ultimately accepted a plea deal for **involuntary manslaughter** prior to his trial and received a sentence of only **three years in prison**.

Currently, he remains incarcerated, with a scheduled release date in **July 2027**.

What transpired between John Carter and Katelyn Markham?

Katelyn Markham was a talented college student at the **Art Institute of Ohio** when she met John Carter, and their relationship quickly flourished. The couple became engaged while still in their early twenties and began to plan their future. They intended to move to Colorado after Katelyn graduated and start a new chapter in their lives together. However, cracks in their relationship began to surface, some of which would later become clear in tragic ways.

On **August 13, 2011**, Katelyn mysteriously vanished. John waited **a day** to report her missing, leading to a large-scale search effort launched by the community. Despite relentless efforts from Katelyn’s family, friends, and volunteers, her body remained unfound for several months, causing the case to grow cold until her decomposed remains were discovered in a wooded area in **Cedar Grove, Indiana**.

Law enforcement was unable to draw conclusive physical evidence from the condition of her body; however, suspicions began to rise around John Carter, particularly due to his unusual behavior. He referred to Katelyn in the past tense before her remains were discovered and provided inconsistent answers during polygraph tests.

Ultimately, the lack of physical evidence impeded further investigation, and the case went cold.

Where is John Carter now?

Almost a decade later, the case was reopened, leading to new developments. Investigators identified markings in the home shared by John and Katelyn that suggested troubling behavior. Additionally, while incarcerated, another inmate alleged that John had confessed to killing Katelyn Markham.

Faced with this circumstantial evidence, John was arrested and charged with murder. Nevertheless, prior to going to trial, he accepted a plea deal for **one count of involuntary manslaughter**, claiming he caused her death during a heated argument, but did not intend to kill her.

As a result of his plea, John was sentenced to just **three years in prison** and is currently serving time at the **North Central Correctional Institution** in **Marion, Ohio**, where he is expected to remain until **July 2027**.

The upcoming episode of **Dateline** on **NBC** will thoroughly investigate this tragic case.

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