Woman sentenced to probation after missing man found dead in apartment

A West Carrollton woman was spared jail time in connection to a missing man who was found dead in her apartment last year.

Christine Michael, 52, was sentenced to five years probation, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

>> RELATED: Woman admits leaving body of missing man in apartment

If she violates the terms of her probation, she faces three years in prison.

On Feb. 26, police found Jerry Truett’s body inside Michael’s Cherokee Drive apartment after a 911 call reported a possible death.

“You can smell it out in the apartment building,” the 911 caller said. “The door is shut and there’s a towel on the bottom of it ... they are trying to cover up the smell.”

Officers found Truett inside a bedroom at the apartment.

>> RELATED: Missing man’s body found in apartment — months later, woman charged

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office estimated that he had died on Nov. 29, 2018.

Truett died from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol intoxication, according to coroner’s office records.

Truett was reported missing Dec. 4, 2018,.

He was last seen at his South Gettysburg home on Nov. 27, 2018, when he left on foot, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

A Missing Endangered Adult Alert was issued for him in December 2018.

>> RELATED: Missing man found dead in West Carrollton apartment

Michael pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse in December 2019, according to court records.

Abuse of a corpse and failure to report knowledge of a death charges were dismissed.

About the Author