By Jim Hannah
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DRY RIDGE - State police have arrested a Glencoe man after his roommate's body was found along a road leading to a trailer the two shared in eastern Gallatin County.

Tony Couch, 40, of Eagle Tunnel Road was arraigned Tuesday morning before Grant District Judge Jim Purcell on charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. He is being held at the Grant County jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail.

The arrest came less than 24 hours after Couch's roommate was found dead in Grant County along the road leading to the trailer. The two lived just west of the Grant County line in rural Gallatin County.

A landowner on Eagle Tunnel Road found the partial remains of Jennifer Miller, 23, of Glencoe at 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Dr. Emily Craig, a forensic anthropologist for the state medical examiner's office, helped detectives at the scene.

State police would not say when they think the body was dumped along the road or how Miller was killed. Grant County's coroner, Marylee Willoby, did not return a phone call Tuesday.

The commonwealth's attorney's office said it was too early in the investigation to know whether it would seek the death penalty.

Trooper Tom Lilley, spokesman for Post 6 of the Kentucky State Police, said Miller's mother identified her daughter's body after a description of the remains was broadcast on television Tuesday night. Miller had not been reported missing. She is the mother of three children.

Lilley said he could not comment on the relationship between Couch and Miller and declined to release more details, saying it could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Couch's next scheduled appearance in court is Monday for a preliminary hearing.

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com