Home News 

Story

Husband Arrested In Celina Death

Posted: 10:50 am EDT June 11, 2009Updated: 3:11 pm EDT June 11, 2009

The Celina Police Department has filed formal charges in connection with the death of Michelle Riley, 36, late Tuesday night

Riley’s body was found in her home by her 11-year-old son. Her husband, Brett Riley, 42, was in the same room with her and was unresponsive but still breathing.

Brett Riley was taken to Coldwater Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment and then released on Thursday morning.

Police said that when Brett Riley was released from the hospital, he was taken into custody on five felony charges, including two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, corrupting another with drugs and trafficking in drugs.

The charges are based on a statement complaint, but the case will be taken to the Mercer County Grand Jury.

Information that was obtained during the emergency response to the incident and following investigation revealed that Brett Riley had obtained a Fentanyl patch and shared it with his wife, Michelle, as a recreational drug, police said.

According to officers, both parties chewed a portion of the patch to obtain a heightened effect from the drug it contained.

Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance. It is available in a patch form that, when placed on the skin, allows for a slow release of the pain control drug.

This is the fourth confirmed Fentanyl death that the Celina Police Department has investigated since 2005. In two of the previous cases, the investigations led to formal charges being filed.

More Headlines

iWitness7