Man pleads guilty to helping dispose of body discovered wrapped in plastic

A Centerville man pleaded guilty to charges connected to the death of a woman found wrapped in plastic and duct tape in a Dayton home last October.

Daniel R. Mertz, 48, pleaded guilty to one count each of gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

His sentencing has not been scheduled at this time.

He is facing up to a total of four years in prison, but is also eligible for Community Control sanctions, according to court documents.

On Oct. 28, police found the body of 26-year-old Cora Rose Grubb inside a house in the 200 block of South Hedges Street.

She died from gunshot and stab wounds to the head and neck, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s

Office.

Mertz admitted to “participating in moving the dead body ... and help wrap her body in plastic and duct tape to be put in a plastic trash bag,” according to court documents.

Police identified Erik Michael Evans, 32, as a suspect in Grubb’s death.

The day after finding her body, police saw Evans in a vehicle at Shell parking lot at North Gettysburg Avenue and Free Pike.

As the officer approached him, Evans pulled out a gun and fired, prompting the officer to return fire, according to Dayton police.

Evans was shot and died during the incident.

An autopsy revealed that Evans died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and that none of the officer’s gunfire hit him.

A note was found on Evans that indicated he killed Grubb, Dayton police Lt. Jason Hall said.