The Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office filed criminal charges against Michael Middaugh, 39, of Elkhart based on allegations originally reported on August 28, 2019. The charges filed in Marshall Superior Court No. 1, supported by a probable cause affidavit, allege three counts of rape, one count of burglary while armed with a deadly weapon, one count of robbery, and one count of criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon. Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman emphasized the allegations arise out of one incident and one victim, although a two year old child was allegedly present.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a residence on Tyler Road shortly before 11:00 am. Responding officers quickly called upon Marshall County Detectives Les McFarland and Jeff Snyder. At Detective McFarland’s request, the Indiana State Police were called in to process the scene of the assault for evidence. The victim also went through a thorough medical and forensic assault examination at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth campus.
Middaugh is a stranger to the victim and is alleged to have gained entry into her house through trickery while she was home alone with her two year old child. The victim indicated that Middaugh held a knife to her throat demanding money and took cash from her and various other places within the home. It is alleged Middaugh then restrained her with zip ties and proceeded to rape her in the presence of her child. Although threatening the victim and her child with physical harm throughout the ordeal, he soon left the residence in a red vehicle. The victim was able to free herself from the zip ties and was able to seek assistance. Officers responded immediately.
The victim was able to provide a detailed description of her attacker, some of which consisted of unique facial features. Detective Sgt. Snyder disseminated the information to law enforcement agencies throughout the area. Elkhart County almost immediately identified Middaugh as matching the description provided by the victim. Middaugh was soon apprehended by Elkhart authorities and detained on their warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. In the meantime, Judge Robert O. Bowen found probable cause existed and ordered the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Middaugh on the six counts alleged and set bond at $200,000.
Chipman assigned Chief Deputy Prosecutor Tami Napier as lead on the case.
Although regretting the circumstances and the harm caused, Chipman praised the speed by which the detectives were able to close this case with an arrest. The Marshall County community can take pride in the excellent police work and the level of interagency cooperation that have led us to this point.
Readers are reminded that criminal charges are mere allegations and that the person so charged is presumed innocent of the allegations unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
