Batavia Township man indicted for involuntary manslaughter, other charges

On Aug. 10, a Clermont County grand jury returned an indictment for Roger Graszl, 58, on several felonies, including two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal drug overdose that occurred May 27.

Graszl has been indicted on the following charges:

• Two counts of involuntary manslaughter, felonies of the first degree;

• One count of trafficking in persons, a felony of the first degree;

• Two counts of promoting prostitution, felonies of the third and fourth degree;

• One count of compelling prostitution, a felony of the third degree;

• One count of tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree;

• One count of trafficking in heroin, a felony of the fifth degree;

• One count of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, a felony of the fifth degree;

• Two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, felonies of the third and fourth degree; and

• One count of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree.

On May 27 at 6:50 a.m., the Clermont County Communications Center received a call from a resident in Batavia Township for a report of a female “non-breather.” Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies and Central Joint Fire/EMS responded to the residence and located a 37-year-old female unresponsive. Despite lifesaving measures performed by EMS personnel, the victim was determined to be beyond the help of medical intervention and was confirmed deceased.

A subsequent autopsy and toxicology report issued by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office identified “combined toxic effects of acute acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl, methamphetamine and Xylazine use” as the cause of death.

Clermont County Sheriff’s detectives launched an investigation into the victim’s death, which included several search warrants of electronic devices and social media platforms and were able to identify crucial evidence from these search warrants, along with the sequence of events concluding with the fatal overdose, which resulted from an illegal substance allegedly supplied by Graszl.

Additionally, throughout the investigation, detectives uncovered various alleged financial transactions made by Graszl to purchase illicit narcotics, which he allegedly furnished to drug-dependent females in exchange for sexual acts.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Jason Swallen of the Criminal Investigations Division at (513) 732-7702.