An Ohio man has been charged with murder in the death of a 23-year-old woman whose body was found abandoned in a field last week.
West Chester police say 29-year-old Michael Strouse was arrested on Saturday, a day after police recovered the body off Millikin Road in Liberty Township.
The Butler County Coroner’s Office has yet to make a positive identification, but the county prosecutor told the Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News he’s ‘100 per cent confident’ the body is that of Ellen Weik based on evidence.
Michael Strouse (left), 29, has been charged with murder in the asphyxiation death of 23-year-old Ellen Weik (right)
Police found a body believed to be that of Weik dumped in this Ohio field on Friday
WLWT said the 23-year-old West Chester Township woman was reported missing on August 1 by her mother, which sparked a massive search involving the FBI, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, West Chester police and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said he made the decision to charge Strouse after police questioned the suspect.
Court documents that were filed on Monday morning indicate that Weik died of asphyxiation inside Stroure’s home on Bluffs Drive in Liberty Township.
Strouse’s residence is located not far from the farm where the missing woman’s body was recovered on Friday.
The 29-year-old murder suspect was arraigned via video conference in Butler County Area II Court, where his bond was set at $2million.
Weik was reported missing on August 1 by her mother. More than three weeks later, the massive search ended tragically off Millikin Road in Liberty Township
The Butler County Coroner’s Office has yet to make a positive identification, but the county prosecutor said he is certain the deceased person is Weik
Strouse has an extensive criminal record going back a decade, including charges of identity fraud, theft, burglary, public indecency, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, reported Cincinnati.com.
According to WCPO, in 2015, he was convicted of burglary and sentenced to three years of probation, which ended early in 2017 because Strouse had exhibited good behavior, according to records.
Strouse is scheduled to be back before the judge on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.