Ohio: Black Adolescent Tried as Adult for Raping, Kidnapping and Stabbing White Teen to Death

NBC4I
February 9, 2014

Danielle Michaels, 18, was found dead near Reynoldsburg High School's Summit Campus on Monday night.
Danielle Michaels, 18, was found dead near Reynoldsburg High School’s Summit Campus while her killer was out shopping and watching ‘ultimate fighting championship’ with his brother.

A teenager who is accused of killing an 18-year-old woman near Reynoldsburg High School Summit campus last year was indicted Thursday.

Adrien McGee was indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence.

The body 18-year-old Danielle Michaels was found near the high school in the 8500 block of Summit Road on Nov. 18.

According to the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office, McGee, 17, was previously charged with aggravated murder, murder, rape, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence. Thursday’s indictment brings all charges against him into adult court.

Adrien McGee, 17, confessed to throwing the knife that killed Michaels (above). McGee's father said he was aiming the 13-inch knife at a tree but hit Michaels, local ABC 6 reported.
Adrien McGee confessed to throwing the knife that killed Michaels. McGee’s father keeps insisting that his son was just aiming the 13-inch knife at a tree but hit Michaels by mistake.

The complaint provided by the prosecutor’s office details that the tampering with evidence charge relates to allegations that, “McGee took steps to alter the scene or hide evidence, including, but not limited to, taking the battery out of her phone and throwing the cell phone and the battery to prevent others from finding it.”

According to Michaels’ family, the teen was reported missing by her mother several times over the weekend. The first report was filed Saturday afternoon when she was supposed to go to a party, but never showed up.

According to Reynoldsburg police, McGee confessed to detectives that he had played an active role in her death. He told detectives that he and Michaels had been smoking marijuana prior to her death in Pine Quarry Park with a group of friends.

Detectives said the teen provided them with details that only a suspect would know.

According to court documents, Michaels was found with a laceration on her neck and arm, and a puncture wound in her neck. McGee allegedly admitted to purposely throwing a knife at Michaels, puncturing her neck. He also allegedly admitted to causing the injury on her arm. The injuries Michaels sustained led to her death.

It is typically NBC4‘s policy not to name juveniles, but McGee has been named because of the nature of the crime.