Middletown police arrested a 51-year-old man on a murder charge after finding a woman dead inside a vehicle during a welfare check on Nov. 5.
Darwin Malcolm faces charges of murder, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse, the Middletown Division of Police said in a statement. Officers responded to the 4000 block of Tytus Avenue at approximately 4:35 p.m. and found a woman inside a vehicle who had sustained fatal injuries, according to the department.
The Butler County Coroner's Office identified the woman as Samantha Victoria Kelly, 43, of Middletown, WCPO reported. Her preliminary cause of death was a gunshot wound, and her manner of death was ruled homicide, according to the coroner's office.
Malcolm and Kelly were dating and living together, according to court papers cited by Local 12.
A court document cited by Local 12 stated Malcolm told police he shot Kelly and placed her in the back of his Chevy Tahoe. He also allegedly told officers he gave a neighbor a bag containing a gun wrapped in a towel, then cleaned up the scene and discarded a shell casing, a bloody towel and other items in an apartment complex dumpster.
Those allegations have not been tested in court. Malcolm's arraignment date, bond status and next court appearance were not reported in any available account as of Nov. 6. No response from Malcolm or an attorney representing him appears in public reporting.
The property owners, who spoke to Local 12 anonymously, said Kelly had been living at the location for a few weeks. Malcolm moved in a few days after she did, they said.
The homicide remains under investigation. Middletown police asked anyone with information to contact Detective T. Ballinger at 513-425-7741 or police dispatch at 513-425-7701.
