Michael Strouse, of 6054 Bluffs Drive, was indicted in September for aggravated murder, murder, three counts of tampering with evidence, menacing by stalking, petty theft, abuse of a corpse, and gross abuse of a corpse. He is being held on $4 million bond set by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Howard at arraignment.
Strouse was scheduled to be back in court Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing, but the hearing was continued until Oct. 31. It appears from court records that discovery in the case has not yet been filed by the prosecution.
Kyle Rapier, one of Strouse’s two attorneys, filed a motion this week to withdraw his request for a bill of particulars from the prosecution “at this time,” he told the Journal-News.
The bill of particulars often outlines the details of each crime included in the indictment.
Rapier declined to say why he withdrew his request.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Strouse had been stalking Weik since the beginning of the year, according to the grand jury indictment.
“On or about Jan. 1, 2018 through July 29, 2018 … Michael Strouse did by engaging in a pattern of conduct knowingly cause Ellen Christine Weik to believe the offender will cause physical harm … or cause mental distress,” the indictment states.
MORE: West Chester Twp. woman found dead reported ‘harassing text message earlier this year’
Strouse is also accused of trespassing on the premises of where Weik “lives, is employed or attends school,” according to the indictment.
Weik filed a police report in February stating she had received a “harassing text message” from an unknown person, according to police. Police have not said if Strouse was a suspect in that incident.
West Chester Police say Strouse, 29, is responsible for the death of Weik at his Liberty Twp. home, located about one-quarter of a mile from the field where her body was found. Strouse was charged with murder on Aug. 25.
Weik, 23, went missing from her West Chester Twp. home on July 29. Her mother reported her missing Aug. 1, according to the West Chester Police missing person’s report.
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