Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty After Living With Wife’s Body for Days, Sending Fake Texts to Family
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Kentucky — A 42-year-old man pleaded guilty this week after authorities said he lived with his wife’s body for days inside their apartment, sending text messages from her phone to deceive her family into believing she was alive.
Husband Waited a Week Before Calling Police
Court records show Tyler Hern entered a guilty plea on October 1 to abuse of a corpse in Campbell County Circuit Court. Prosecutors recommended a 15-month prison sentence as part of a plea agreement. Investigators said Hern waited nearly a week after the death of his wife, 37-year-old Laura Hern, before contacting police.
When officers arrived on February 3, they discovered Laura’s body in an advanced state of decomposition inside the couple’s apartment. Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Zimmerman described the case as “unusual,” citing Hern’s decision not to call 911 as gross neglect.
Fake Texts Sent to Family to Hide Death
Investigators revealed Hern sent a series of text messages from his wife’s phone to cover up her death. One message read: “I’m fine. I’m just sick. Tyler is taking care of me.” Her mother even traveled from out of state to check on her daughter, but Hern refused to open the door.
In court, Hern told the judge he “couldn’t handle the situation” and admitted he delayed reporting her death because he needed time to get sober before calling authorities.
Suspicion of Possible Foul Play
Although Hern was not charged with causing Laura’s death, investigators noted troubling details. Police said Hern had searched online about whether drinking antifreeze could be fatal. While he claimed he drank antifreeze in a failed attempt to harm himself, authorities initially awaited toxicology results to determine whether Laura may have been poisoned. The autopsy did not find external signs of foul play, and no additional charges were filed.
Sentencing Scheduled for November
Hern’s attorney, Daniel Schubert, said his client chose not to fight the charge at trial. “He wants to turn the page and move forward,” Schubert told reporters. Hern is scheduled to appear before Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward for sentencing on November 12.
The case has left the Highland Heights community disturbed as details emerge of how a husband lived with his wife’s body for nearly a week while hiding the truth from her loved ones. For more Kentucky crime and court updates, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.