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Valerie Hamilton Update: Suspect Claims Valerie Overdosed; Medical Examiners "Found Evidence of Drug Usage," Say Police

Valerie Hamilton Update: Michael Harvey Claims Victim Overdosed
Valerie Hamilton (Personal Photo) Personal Photo

CHARLOTTE, NC (CBS/WBTV) The suspect in the death of Valerie Hamilton, the daughter of a North Carolina police chief, claimed that he did not kill the 23-year-old as he was being escorted into an Upstate New York courtroom Tuesday, but instead protested that she died of a drug overdose.

PICTURES: Valerie Hamilton Murdered

Michael Harvey, a convicted sex offender, is accused of killing Hamilton, whose body was found Saturday in a Charlotte, N.C. self-storage unit. Police say Harvey was the last person seen with Hamilton after the two reportedly left a Charlotte bar together.

As he was being escorted into the courthouse, Harvey told CBS affiliate WIBV that he is innocent and that Hamilton overdosed on heroin.

"She OD'ed in her sleep. This is not a murder. I did not kill her," Harvey said.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals arrested the 34-year-old Harvey Monday without incident at the home of childhood friend, Paul Maikranz, in Niagara Falls, NY. Maikranz was also arrested because he allowed the alleged murderer to stay in his home in an attempt to hide from authorities, but he was later released after cooperating with police. The stolen Chevy Blazer that Harvey was driving was also recovered.

Michael Harvey (WBTV)

Harvey waived extradition Tuesday during a hearing before Niagara County Court judge Matthew Murphy saying he would not fight extradition and would return to Charlotte, reports CBS affiliate WBTV.


Following the hearing Harvey was sent to the Niagara County Jail to await transfer.

PICTURES: Valerie Hamilton Murdered

Late Tuesday afternoon, police said in a statement that Hamilton did not seem to die of any apparent physical trauma and that medical examiners "found evidence of drug usage," according to WBTV.

Police also revealed that witnesses said when Hamilton was last seen she "appeared to need immediate medical attention" -- but that Harvey neglected pleas from witnesses for him to get her help.

Maikranz told WIVB Tuesday that his friend appeared "scared" when he came to his house and said Harvey told him that he and Hamilton were "doing things" at his house, but they later left and got a hotel room.

"He said he woke up the next morning next to a dead girl," said Maikranz.

Harvey claims he and Hamilton took some black tar heroin the night they left the bar, and when he woke up, he claims she was dead, reports WBTV. He apparently told Maikranz that he put Hamilton's body in a storage unit because he panicked.

Charlotte police revealed on Tuesday that Harvey "moved Ms. Hamilton in an effort to conceal her death and made great efforts to clean up any potential crime scenes before he disposed of her body," reports WBTV.

Police on Tuesday said that preliminary results from the Medical Examiner "do not indicate any sign of traditional physical trauma to Hamilton's body, i.e. gunshot wounds, stab wounds, strangulation, bludgeoning."

Police are still awaiting toxicology results and the results of the sexual assault examination kit.

Harvey was still in the Niagara County Jail Wednesday morning and is expected to arrive back in Charlotte later that day.

Hundreds of people gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, N.C. Tuesday afternoon for Valerie Hamilton's memorial service.

More on Crimesider.
September 21, 2010 - Valerie Hamilton Murder Suspect Waives Extradition; Michael Harvey Headed Back to N.C. in Death of Police Chief's Daughter
September 21, 2010 - Valerie Hamilton Murder Suspect "Didn't Do It," Says Friend
September 21, 2010 - Valerie Hamilton Murder: Hundreds Attend Candlelight Vigil for Police Chief's Daughter
September 20, 2010 - Valerie Hamilton Murder Suspect Arrested; Sex Offender Nabbed in Death of Police Chief's Daughter



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