2 indicted for dumping Middletown woman’s body in woods after overdose

Two Middletown people have been indicted by a Butler County grand jury for allegedly dumping a woman's body in woods following her apparent overdose.

Erica Robinson and Joshua Swenson, both of 2912 Wilbraham Road, were indicted Wednesday for tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse, both felonies, according to the grand jury report.

MORE: Mom of Middletown woman found dead in woods speaks out

Robinson, 32, and Swenson, 28, were also originally charged by Middletown police with permitting drug abuse and obstruction official business, but the grand jury declined to return indictments on those charges.

The duo told police last month that 20-year-old Leslie Dalton overdosed in their house and they waited until night before putting her body in a wheelbarrow, covering it with a sheet and then pushing her body across the street to the woods.

Dalton, who police believe had been missing for several weeks, was found dead in a dry creek bed Aug. 13. Her body was badly decomposed, police said.

Robinson said she moved Dalton’s body and did not call police because she didn’t want to get a nuisance letter from the city, according to a Middletown City Jail booking report.

Robinson and Swenson remain in jail and are scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court on the indictment charges.

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