KENTON, Ohio (WLIO) — A Hardin County man has pleaded guilty to killing his father. Dustin Bolen pleaded guilty to murder, gross abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of Michael Bolen, who went missing at the end of March 2024.
The Hardin County sheriff said Dustin Bolen was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation. He was taken into custody in April for violating a “no contact court order” involving his father.
In December, Bolen confessed to family members that he had killed his father and buried him in the crawl space of Michael Bolen’s home.
Authorities conducted multiple searches of Michael Bolen’s home and the area surrounding McGuffey in an effort to locate his body. After hundreds of investigative hours, a Hardin County grand jury indicted Dustin Bolen on seven felony charges in November.
In December, he confessed to family members that he had killed his father and buried him in the crawl space of Michael Bolen’s home.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and discovered that a section of the floor had been cut to access the crawl space, where Michael Bolen’s body was buried.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and discovered that a section of the floor had been cut to access the crawl space, where Michael Bolen’s body was buried. His remains were exhumed and taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for identification.
Dustin Bolen is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2.
Media Release from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office
On 03/05/2025 Dustin Ray Bolen, a McGuffey man has plead guilty to the following charges: Count #1 Murder (F1)
Count #2 Gross abuse of a corpse (F5) Count #3 Tampering with evidence (F3)
Sentencing for the above charges is scheduled for April 2, 2025, at 9:00 am in the Hardin County Common Pleas Court.
Additional information:
On March 31, 2024, Michael Bolen was reported missing by a family member and an investigation was opened. Interviews were conducted with family and community members over the next several days while an extensive search was conducted in and around the McGuffey area. Dustin Bolen became a person of interest early in the investigation.
Dustin Bolen was taken into custody on April 5, 2024, by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office for a violation of a “no contact court order.” This order originated from a domestic violence case against Dustin, the victim being Michael Bolen. Dustin Bolen was later transferred to a Community Based Correctional Facility.
From April 1, 2024, through November 7, 2024, numerous searches of Michael Bolen’s residence, the western section of Hardin County and numerous waterways were conducted by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, the family of the deceased and community members. Cadaver dogs were deployed at the Bolen residence, other areas of suspicion and waterways surrounding the McGuffey area. None of the efforts of the cadaver dogs nor search parties resulted in Michael Bolen being located.
Hundreds of man hours were spent analyzing forensic material, interviewing witnesses, reviewing security footage and collecting possible evidence. The case was presented to a Hardin County Grand Jury on November 6, 2024. The Grand Jury indicted Dustin Ray Bolen on seven criminal counts to include murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. On November 7, 2024, Deputies from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office
went to the Community Based Correctional Facility, took custody of Dustin Bolen and transported him to the Multi County Jail to await arraignment and trial.
On December 16, 2024, Dustin Bolen confessed to family members that he had indeed killed his father, Michael Bolen, and buried him in the crawl space of their residence. On December 17, 2024, a search warrant was served on the Bolen residence on Hunsicker Street. Michael Bolen’s remains were discovered in a portion of the crawl space that had very limited access. It was discovered that a section of floor had been cut out by Dustin Bolen so Michael Bolen’s body could be hidden. After burying the remains, Dustin Bolen replaced the flooring to hide his crime. Michael Bolen’s remains were exhumed and sent to Montgomery County for autopsy and identification.
During the investigation the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the following agencies: Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Hardin County Crime Task Force, Hardin County Special Response Team, Hardin County Drone Team, BCI&I, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Hardin County Prosecutor’s Office, FBI, Kenton Fire Department, Alger Fire Department, and McGuffey Fire Department.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank every community member that helped search for Michael Bolen or assisted in this matter. We are grateful that the family can now begin the long process of closure.
