UPDATE: Man Charged in Missing Woman’s Death Pleads Not Guilty

PARIS, Ky. (WTVQ) – 45-year-old Michael Hutsell, charged in connection to the death of Tina Johnson, who was found wrapped in plastic in the crawl area under a Paris duplex, pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday.

Tina Johnson had been missing since December 2nd.  Her body was found after police officers responded to a duplex where an open door was reported and found an odor on Monday.  A Kentucky State Police trooper found the body.

Hutsell, who lives in one of the duplex’s units, was charged with tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse in connection to the case.

He was appointed a lawyer in court, and will appear again on January 18th at 1:30 p.m.

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1-3-17 5:11 p.m.

Body Found under Paris Home Identified as Tina Johnson

Kentucky State Police say a body found under a duplex in Paris has been identified as Tina Johnson.

Tina Johnson (Photo Courtesy: Kentucky State Police)

Johnson, 53, was from Lexington but was last seen in Paris on December 2nd.  Her car was found abandoned in an apartment complex parking lot Paris on Sunday, December 4, with her purse and license still inside.

Troopers say Paris Police contacted them just before midnight Monday night, after investigating a duplex on High Street with its doorway open, to report a strange odor coming from the home.  Troopers say they searched the property, and found Johnson’s body in the crawl space area under the duplex.

State Police say the body of Tina Johnson was found in the crawl space area under this duplex. (WTVQ/Melanie Kendall)

Michael Hutsell, 45, who lived in one of the duplexes units, has been arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in connection to the case.

According to an arrest citation, Hutsell told police he wrapped Johnson’s body in plastic and hid it in the crawl space.  Troopers say they believe this happened around the same time Johnson disappeared.

State police have not released any information on the cause of Johnson’s death.  An autopsy was performed Tuesday afternoon, but the coroner says results will not be likely until Wednesday.

Hutsell may face additional charges depending on the outcome of the autopsy.

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12:19 p.m.

Body Found in Duplex Crawl Space; Resident Charged

Kentucky State Police have issued a report in reference to a body found in a Bourbon County home, and the man charged with corpse abuse in connection to the case.

Troopers say they received a call from the Paris Police Department, who said they were checking out a duplex with an open doorway on High Street.  Officers told KSP that there was a strange odor coming from the home.

After receiving consent to search the home, investigators say they found a corpse in the crawl space area of the duplex.

Troopers charged Michael Hutsell, 45, with abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.  Hutsell lives in one of the two duplex units, according to KSP.

Michael Hutsell (Photo Courtesy: Bourbon Co. Detention Center)

The body found in the home remains unidentified, and a cause of death has not been released, pending completion of an autopsy.

Troopers say, depending on the outcome of the autopsy, Hutsell may face additional charges.

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10:49 a.m.

KSP: Body Found in Home; Man Charged with Abuse of Corpse

Kentucky State Police say a man is behind bars, charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence, after a body was found in a home on High Street.

Troopers say they were called to the home around midnight and found the body.

45-year-old Michael Hutsell was charged in the case, but officers have not released details on how Hutsell was related, if at all, to the victim.  Investigators say he may face additional charges depending on the outcome of an autopsy, scheduled for later Tuesday.

According to police, a news release with additional information is scheduled to come out Tuesday.  ABC 36 will update this story with that information when it becomes available.