An arrest has been made in connection with the death of an Ohio man who was found deceased in his room at the Batesville Hampton Inn 14 months ago, reported Batesville Police Department Chief Stan Holt.
Eileen Nichole Presley, 27, Batesville, was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 26, for reckless homicide, a Class C felony; dealing in a Schedule I drug (heroin), a Class B felony; and failure to give notice of a suspicious death, and theft, both Class D felonies.
On Monday, July 18, 2011, Hampton Inn staff were notified by the employer of Michael McKenna, 39, Sandusky, Ohio, that McKenna had not been to work since Tuesday of the prior week. “Upon checking his room, they found him deceased and notified law enforcement immediately,” Holt said.
Autopsy results released Sept. 19, 2011, listed the cause of death as “acute heroin intoxication.”
After a thorough and lengthy investigation that led the chief and Detective Sgt. Mike Benjamin to Knoxville, Tenn., and West Union, Ohio, to interview potential witnesses, the case was submitted to Franklin County Prosecutor Melvin Wilhelm, who filed the charges against Presley
Holt explained, “Investigators believe that Presley knowingly gave McKenna heroin with the pretense of it being a different drug. They also believe that after Presley discovered McKenna was deceased, she removed items from his room and failed to notify authorities of his death.”
The woman was transported to the Franklin County Security Center, Brookville, and remained there Sept. 27 under a bond amount of $25,000 cash or $2,500 to a bondsman, said county dispatcher John Hundley.
Franklin Circuit Court Judge Steven Cox will preside over her initial hearing Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 8:30 a.m.
Holt reminded that Presley should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
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