Monday, June 14, 1999
2 guilty pleas are expected in killing
Pair can avoid death penalty
BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BATAVIA — In a homicide case that is only 2 weeks old, two local men are expected to plead guilty today to aggravated murder in the death of one suspect's brother-in-law, The Cincinnati Enquirer has learned.
The victim, Jeffrey Little, 22, had moved to Clermont County last year from the Los Angeles suburb of Ontario in hopes of reconciling with his wife, Lisa. Her brother, Michael Young, has been charged in Mr. Little's death.
Mr. Little's body was found in Little Indian Creek near the Ohio River in Ohio Township, Clermont County on Memorial Day. He'd been missing since Dec. 6. He was stabbed and had numerous broken bones.
Clermont County Prosecutor Donald White and Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg confirmed Sunday that Mr. Young, 29, of Goshen, and an acquaintance, Gregory Menkhaus, 18, of Loveland, will enter guilty pleas today in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.
Both face 20 years to life in prison. They have been held in Clermont County Jail since their arrests June 5 and 6. Their bonds were set last Monday at $1 million each, at which time each pleaded not guilty.
Sheriff Rodenberg called it a “phenomenally quick resolution to the case.”
“After looking at the evidence,” Mr. White said Sunday, “they convinced their attorneys to enter the pleas.”
Mr. White said the possibility of the death penalty might have been a factor in their decisions. The lawyer for neither defendant was available for comment Sunday.
The Enquirer learned prosecutors also had been considering charges of robbery and kidnapping. The robbery charge would have been connected to the $1,300 Mr. Little received from relatives shortly before he disappeared. One possible condition of a death penalty specification is that the murder occur in the commission of a felony.
In May 1994, Mr. Young was convicted of stalking his then-wife and was sentenced in Warren County to six months in jail. Mr. Young stalked his wife through letters and phone calls from Warren County Jail, where he was serving time for theft.
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