NOW. GOOD AFTERNOON. I’M SUSAN SHAPIRO. THE LEBANON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS A WOMAN WHO WAS FOUND DEAD LAST TUESDAY IN A HOME NEAR MOUNT GRETNA MAY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH IS NOW CHARGED WITH NEGLECT OF A DEPENDENT PERSON, ABUSE OF A CORPSE AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON. THE D-A SAYS HE TOOK MEASURES TO CONCEAL HIS WIFE CHARLENE’S PASSING, AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR HER. THE DEA ALSO SAYS MCCULLOUGH WAS LIVING INSIDE THE HOME ON TIMBER LANE FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH AFTER HIS WIFE, CHARLENE, DIED. OFFICERS FOUND CHARLENE’S BODY LAST TUESDAY DURING A WELLNESS CHECK CHECK AND FOUND THAT IT WAS IN A STATE OF ADVANCED DECOMPOSITION. THE DEA SAYS MCCULLOUGH WAS AWARE OF HIS WIFE’S PASSING AND HAD TAKEN MEASURES TO CONCEAL HER DEATH. THEY SAY THERE’S NO EVIDENCE THAT MCCULLOUGH SOUGHT MEDICAL TR
Man kept living in home with wife’s body weeks after her death, Lebanon County DA says
Updated: 2:22 PM EDT Apr 20, 2026
A 68-year-old Lebanon County man did not report his wife’s death and continued living in a home with her body for at least a month, according to the district attorney. “Evidence indicates that Michael Mikula had been residing inside the home for at least one month after Sharlene passed, was aware of her passing and had taken measures to conceal her passing. At this time, there is no evidence to indicate Michael Mikula sought medical treatment for Sharlene nor did he attempt to notify authorities of her passing,” a statement from the DA’s office said. The body of Sharlene Mikula, 66, was found in a home on the 300 block of Timber Lane in South Londonderry Township on April 14. Michael initially told officers that his wife was not home, according to the DA. “As officers spoke with Michael and began to check the home, Sharlene Mikula was located deceased within the home. Officers observed signs indicating Sharlene was in a state of advanced decomposition,” a statement from the DA’s office said.An autopsy was completed on April 16, but officials said the results are still pending and could take up to three months.According to charging documents, Sharlene’s decayed body hindered the forensic examination.Video below: Police, wearing gloves, return to home, go inside carrying boxes (Monday, April 20).Case HistoryMikula told detectives his wife had ‘been gone for a long time,’ according to the affidavit of probable cause. Charging documents say Sharlene’s family members made prior requests for well-being checks, and the most recent one was in February. Sharlene’s family told officers she suffered mental health disorders, like depression and mania. According to court documents, she was hospitalized at the Lancaster Behavioral Health hospital in May 0f 2025.Records from her 51 day stay, say she was admitted for depression. It also noted she had lost over 100 pounds within a year, and had a ‘lack of energy.’ Mikula told detectives he would try and compel her to eat one meal a day, but she did not have an appetite.Detectives say he told them he found her dead one morning, and she did not look decomposed until about ‘a week ago.’LINK | Get suicide or mental health crisis help (988).Arrest, charges filedMichael is charged with:Neglect of a care-dependent person.Abuse of corpse.Recklessly endangering another person.Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.Mikula was taken to the Lebanon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.Sheriff’s saleAccording to county records, the home was sold in a sheriff’s sale on April 14.A neighbor who did not want to be identified told WGAL that the new owners came to check on the property and asked nearby residents about the home.The neighbor said the new owners noticed a foul odor and called for a well-being check.“We just moved in here in November, and we know nothing other than just seeing individuals walking through the house, shadows actually,” the neighbor said. “But I’ve never seen them personally.”TipsThe district attorney’s office says the investigation is ongoing. If you have any information you’d like to share, you can call the Lebanon County Detective Bureau at 717-228-4403.Timeline Tuesday, April 14, around 3:30 p.m. — The Lebanon County Coroner’s Office responded to 300 Timber Lane in South Londonderry Township after a police well-being check.At the scene — A woman was found dead inside the home and was pronounced dead there.Tuesday — The home was sold in a sheriff’s sale on Tuesday, according to county documents.After the sale — Neighbors said the new buyer came to check on the property and asked around about the home.Neighbor account — A neighbor said the new owners noticed a foul odor and called for a well check.Tuesday night — A WGAL viewer recorded video showing a hazmat team at the home and later removing the body.Wednesday — A South Londonderry Township police officer remained outside the home.Current status — The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.Thursday, April 16 — An autopsy is scheduled.Friday, April 17 — The coroner identified Sharlene Mikula, 66, as the deceased.Friday, April 17 — The South Londonderry Township Police Department and the Lebanon County Detectives have filed joint charges against Michael B. Mikula in relation to the discovery of his wife’s body.Monday, April 20 — The Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office releases a statement and a photo of Michael Mikula.
SOUTH LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. —
A 68-year-old Lebanon County man did not report his wife’s death and continued living in a home with her body for at least a month, according to the district attorney.
“Evidence indicates that Michael Mikula had been residing inside the home for at least one month after Sharlene passed, was aware of her passing and had taken measures to conceal her passing. At this time, there is no evidence to indicate Michael Mikula sought medical treatment for Sharlene nor did he attempt to notify authorities of her passing,” a statement from the DA’s office said.
The body of Sharlene Mikula, 66, was found in a home on the 300 block of Timber Lane in South Londonderry Township on April 14.
Michael initially told officers that his wife was not home, according to the DA.
“As officers spoke with Michael and began to check the home, Sharlene Mikula was located deceased within the home. Officers observed signs indicating Sharlene was in a state of advanced decomposition,” a statement from the DA’s office said.
An autopsy was completed on April 16, but officials said the results are still pending and could take up to three months.
According to charging documents, Sharlene’s decayed body hindered the forensic examination.
Video below: Police, wearing gloves, return to home, go inside carrying boxes (Monday, April 20).
Case History
Mikula told detectives his wife had ‘been gone for a long time,’ according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Charging documents say Sharlene’s family members made prior requests for well-being checks, and the most recent one was in February.
Sharlene’s family told officers she suffered mental health disorders, like depression and mania. According to court documents, she was hospitalized at the Lancaster Behavioral Health hospital in May 0f 2025.
Records from her 51 day stay, say she was admitted for depression. It also noted she had lost over 100 pounds within a year, and had a ‘lack of energy.’
Mikula told detectives he would try and compel her to eat one meal a day, but she did not have an appetite.
Detectives say he told them he found her dead one morning, and she did not look decomposed until about ‘a week ago.’
LINK | Get suicide or mental health crisis help (988).
Arrest, charges filed
Michael is charged with:
Neglect of a care-dependent person.Abuse of corpse.Recklessly endangering another person.Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Mikula was taken to the Lebanon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Sheriff’s sale
According to county records, the home was sold in a sheriff’s sale on April 14.
A neighbor who did not want to be identified told WGAL that the new owners came to check on the property and asked nearby residents about the home.
The neighbor said the new owners noticed a foul odor and called for a well-being check.
“We just moved in here in November, and we know nothing other than just seeing individuals walking through the house, shadows actually,” the neighbor said. “But I’ve never seen them personally.”
Tips
The district attorney’s office says the investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information you’d like to share, you can call the Lebanon County Detective Bureau at 717-228-4403.
Timeline Tuesday, April 14, around 3:30 p.m. — The Lebanon County Coroner’s Office responded to 300 Timber Lane in South Londonderry Township after a police well-being check.At the scene — A woman was found dead inside the home and was pronounced dead there.Tuesday — The home was sold in a sheriff’s sale on Tuesday, according to county documents.After the sale — Neighbors said the new buyer came to check on the property and asked around about the home.Neighbor account — A neighbor said the new owners noticed a foul odor and called for a well check.Tuesday night — A WGAL viewer recorded video showing a hazmat team at the home and later removing the body.Wednesday — A South Londonderry Township police officer remained outside the home.Current status — The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.Thursday, April 16 — An autopsy is scheduled.Friday, April 17 — The coroner identified Sharlene Mikula, 66, as the deceased.Friday, April 17 — The South Londonderry Township Police Department and the Lebanon County Detectives have filed joint charges against Michael B. Mikula in relation to the discovery of his wife’s body.Monday, April 20 — The Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office releases a statement and a photo of Michael Mikula.