(UPDATE 11:13 a.m.) MANSFIELD – The husband of the woman found dead in her garage on Apple Lane Sunday morning is in the Richland County Jail, charged with murder.
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the Major Crimes Unit filed a murder charge on 39-year-old Herman Jared Preston on Monday morning. The charge stems from an alleged altercation between Herman Preston and his wife, 36-year-old Amanda Preston, at their residence at 383 Apple Lane on Sunday morning.
Herman Preston pleaded not guilty in Mansfield Municipal Court on Monday. He was issued a $500,000 cash bond and $500,000 personal recognizance. If he posts bond, he will be on electronic monitoring and ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family.
The victim, Amanda Preston, was declared dead by the Richland County Coroner at 10:16 a.m. on Sunday after Sheriff’s deputies found her unresponsive in the garage at the Prestons’ residence. Herman Preston called 911 at 9:35 a.m. and told the dispatcher his wife had been drinking the night before and cut his arm after becoming angry with him. He stated he then locked her in the garage.
Responders to the scene included the Richland County Coroner, the Sheriff along with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, and Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page.
According to the Richland County Jail’s website, Herman Preston is being held on one murder charge under statute 2903.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, which states no person shall purposely cause the death of another. No bond amount is listed.
Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page explained there are no levels of degrees when dealing with murder charges – only a difference between murder and aggravated murder.
“Aggravated murder is with prior calculation and design,” she said. “Murder is purposely taking a life of another.”
The charge of murder was determined by the Sheriff’s Office based on the evidence they have at this time, she said. The penalty for murder is 15 years to life in prison.
An autopsy is being performed on Amanda Preston Monday morning in Cuyahoga County. Herman Preston is currently incarcerated at the Richland County Sheriff’s Jail. The Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate.
