A Warren County judge ordered today, Sept. 8, that the hospital where Sarah Widmer was taken after her death turn over the medical records relating to her treatment.

Warren County prosecutors filed a motion last week requesting Cincinnati-based Bethesda North Hospital to release any records it has for Widmer, who was found dead in the bathtub of her Hamilton Twp. home on Aug. 11. The motion was granted by Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Neal Bronson.

Widmer's husband, Ryan, 27, is charged with aggravated murder for allegedly drowning her. Ryan Widmer called 911 on Aug. 11 and said he found his wife dead in the bathtub. Medical personnel arrived and then took Sarah to Bethesda Medical Center at Arrow Springs in Lebanon.

The records, which must be released to the Warren County prosecutor by Sept. 19, may shed some light on inconsistencies in Ryan's statements that he pulled Sarah from the bathtub and those made by Hamilton Twp. police officer Quillan Short in an affidavit. He said upon arriving at the Widmer house that Sarah was on the floor and that she "was nude and only her hair was wet. The carpet underneath her body was dry."

The affidavit also stated there were two blood stains — one around her head and one near her vaginal area.

A search warrant served at the couple's Morrow home included two envelopes marked "In case of Marriage Emergency," one of which also had "Ryan" written on it.

Defense attorney Charles Rittgers said those envelopes are not as telling as some may think. They were provided to the young couple by mentors before their marriage and were to be opened for guidance if they had an argument.

Widmer is distraught by both the loss of his wife and that authorities do not believe him, Rittgers said.

"He is grieving, he has lost his wife and they (police and prosecutors) pulled the trigger in two days charging him for something he didn't do," Rittgers said last week.

A hearing regarding the motion is scheduled for 8:45 a.m., Friday, Sept. 12 in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

Staff Writer Lauren Pack contributed to this story

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4507 or rycook@coxohio.com.