Akron - Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Amy Corrigall Jones sentenced Michael Olson, 35, of Phyllis Avenue in Akron, to LIFE IN PRISON without the possibility of parole for the murder of Mary Kay “Katie” Wohlfarth.
Prior to being sentenced, Olson pled guilty to the following charges:
- Aggravated Murder – a special felony
- Rape – a felony of the 1st degree
- Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle – a felony of the 4th degree
- Trespass in a Habitation – a felony of the 4th degree
- Gross Abuse of a Corpse – a felony of the 5th degree
On June 17th, 2019 the family of 68-year-old Katie Wohlfarth reported her missing. Two days later, Akron Police discovered the woman’s body inside a storage unit on East Tallmadge Avenue just east of Home Avenue in Akron. Olson was seen driving the victim’s car and was later arrested at his Akron home. Investigators determined Olson killed Wohlfarth and locked her body in his storage unit.
“Michael Olson is a brutal, cold-blooded killer. The community is safer with him spending the rest of his life in prison. I’m pleased we were able to get swift justice for Katie and her family,” said Prosecutor Walsh.
A Summit County Grand Jury indicted Olson on August 20, 2019. Prior to presenting the case to grand jury, representatives from the Prosecutor’s Office met with Olson’s attorney to discuss any mitigating factors to determine if the death penalty should be pursued. Following those discussions, Olson’s attorney proposed an agreement in which the defendant would plead guilty to the indictment and accept a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. We also consulted with the victim’s family and law enforcement, both of whom approved of the resolution.
Photo courtesy of The Summit County Sheriff's Office
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