TRAVERSE CITY — A man was arraigned on four charges in connection with the missing Mancelona woman whose body was found earlier this week.
Kyle Michael Meredith, 41, was arraigned on Thursday afternoon in the 86th District Court on charges of concealing the death of a person, tampering with evidence, lying to a peace officer and concealing the discovery of a body.
Meredith, who lives in a camper in Mancelona, pleaded not guilty.
The charges are related to the death of 48-year-old Kymberlee Sue Rogers of Mancelona.
On June 7, Antrim County Sheriff’s Office deputies were sent to the Scholl Road area for a well-being check on Rogers, who had limited mobility and had not been seen or heard from since June 5, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies were unable to locate Rogers, they called in their K-9 teams, a drone, the county’s search-and-rescue unit and dive team. They also asked for the public’s help to find her.
Rogers’ body was found June 10 and Meredith was arrested on the same day, the Antrim County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday.
Attorney Janet Mistele, who represented Meredith at the arraignment, asked the court for a personal recognizance or 10% bond.
“We don’t have any reason to believe that he would fail to appear and apply by any and all bond conditions,” she said.
Antrim County Prosecutor Wilson Brott urged the judge, Magistrate Sarah Carter, to set a high cash bond with a required tether, calling Meredith a danger to the public and a flight risk.
Brott called Meredith a “prime suspect” in the death of Rogers and said officers are waiting on autopsy results while continuing their investigation.
“Signs are all pointing to a high likelihood that he’s going to end up being charged with open murder once we get that information. He’s also shown a willingness to deceive police officers and falsify evidence,” Brott said.
Carter decided on a $500,000 cash or surety bond, citing Meredith’s lack of permanent housing and public safety, noting he has only been living in Michigan since March.
If Meredith does post bond, he will be under house arrest and must wear a GPS tether, Carter said. He cannot possess a firearm, must provide information on where he will be staying, must be respectful and non-threatening to law enforcement and court staff and is not allowed to contact Rogers’ family.
Meredith’s next hearing will be a probable cause conference at 8 a.m. June 25. He is also scheduled for a preliminary examination at 11 a.m. July 2.