Woman found dead in Middletown: What we know now

Middletown police are continuing to investigate the death of a woman whose body was found Sunday in a dried creek bed behind homes in the 2900 block of Wilbraham Road.

Here’s what we know now about the case:

1. Death investigated as drug overdose

The death of Leslie Lee Dalton, of Ross Street in Middletown, is being investigated as a drug overdose, according to Middletown police Lt. Scott Reeve.

However, detectives are investigating how her body was taken to the woods because that’s not where she died, according to Reeve.

2. Woman received Facebook messages about daughter’s dead body

Dalton had reportedly been missing since July 27.

Her mother, Rebecca Charlton, was at the Middletown police station making a missing persons report Aug. 10, when she received Facebook messages from a person who had photos of Dalton’s dead body at an undisclosed location.

Police were unable to find the person who sent the Facebook messages, according to a police report.

3. Body was ‘badly decomposed’

Dalton’s body “was badly decomposed” when it was found, Reeve said.

“It had been there for a while,” he said.

Police also recovered Dalton’s purse and sandals at the scene, according to the police report.

4. Autopsy conducted

An autopsy was conducted Monday on Dalton’s body at the Butler County Coroner’s Office, according to administrator Martin Schneider.

He had no other information to release Monday afternoon about the results of that autopsy.

5. Police will continue questioning

“We have a lot to look into yet,” Reeve told this news outlet. “We need to talk to everyone involved and that takes a while.”

Staff Writer Lauren Pack contributed to this report.

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