MIDDLETOWN — Ronald A. Spence Jr., accused of killing his wife and partially dismembering her body, sat silently in court Tuesday as a judge sent his case to a Butler County grand jury.

        Monroe Police Officer Mike Rosebalm testified at Tuesday's hearing in Middletown Municipal Court that Mr. Spence told him he “accidentally killed” his wife, Shawny Spence.

        “He said he was drunk, he was beating his wife and he killed her,” Officer Rosebalm said.

Spence

        He said Mr. Spence told him his wife's body could be found in their bedroom closet.

        Judge Mark Wall ruled there was enough evidence to remand the case to the grand jury. He continued Mr. Spence's bond at $500,000.

        Mr. Spence, 35, of Lemon Township, is charged with aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse.

        Authorities still don't know what caused Mrs. Spence's death. Butler County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt has identified the cause so far as “homicidal violence.” He said she was killed April 6.

        Officer Rosebalm said his conversation Mr. Spence occurred shortly after police arrived at the Spences' mobile home in Lemon Township on April 9.

        Officer Rosebalm said Mr. Spence had been charged with domestic violence three times in Hamilton County and once in Butler County.

        Police said Mr. Spence's father, Ronald A. Spence Sr., of Union Township, Clermont County, had called them to the mobile home and said he feared his son had killed Mrs. Spence.

        Police found the nude body of Mrs. Spence, 26, in a bedroom closet April 9. She was in a sitting position, wrapped in plastic that was bound with duct tape, Dr. Burkhardt said.

        Her head was nearly severed, her left arm had been amputated and she had gashes on her right arm, her left groin and her right groin. Dr. Burkhardt said the gashes indicated someone tried to amputate her right arm and her legs with a knife.

        Another plastic bag containing her left arm, a hacksaw and her clothes was next to the body, Dr. Burkhardt said.

        Strangulation, a blow to the face and loss of blood were among the possible causes of death, he said.

        Mrs. Spence had a large bruise near her right eye, Dr. Burkhardt said. Autopsy and toxicology reports have not been completed.

        The Spences' 3-year-old daughter is in the custody of Mr. Spence's parents.

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