Authorities in Cincinnati confirmed Friday that Michael Balleen, 59, was found dead in a homeless camp near River Road and Mt. Hope Avenue, close to the Ohio River in the Sedamsville neighborhood. Balleen had been listed as a parole violator at large by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction as recently as Oct. 15.
Background of the 1983 homicide
According to court records, the case began on July 25, 1983, when Balleen, then 15, allegedly used an ax to strike his stepfather, Paul Holden, in the face while Holden lay in bed on Westwood Avenue. Holden succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 1. Balleen was sentenced to a term of 20 years to life for aggravated murder and entered prison at age 16.
Parole history and recent violations
Balleen first received parole in 2006, but was returned to prison in Dec. 2007. His criminal record also includes a drug possession conviction in Hamilton County and a burglary case in Clermont County, for which he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in March 2008. He was granted parole again in 2012 and released on Dec. 15, 2025.
State records show a pattern of repeated parole violations. He was declared a parole violator at large on July 12, 2026, and an obstruction arrest was recorded on July 21. On that same date, prison records listed him as a technical parole violator and noted he was “restored while at large.” The records do not explain how the arrest related to the status change. He was again declared at large on Oct. 15, just weeks before his death.
Discovery of his death
Investigators told WLWT that on Nov. 6, officers found Balleen’s body in a homeless encampment near the Ohio River. The cause of death has not yet been released, and officials have not indicated whether foul play was involved.
The case underscores ongoing challenges for Ohio’s parole system, which must balance public safety with the reintegration of long‑term offenders. While the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has not issued a statement on the circumstances of Balleen’s death, the agency continues to monitor parole violators closely.
Community impact
Residents of the Sedamsville area expressed concern over the presence of a homeless camp near the riverfront, a location that has seen increased activity in recent months. Local service organizations are working with city officials to address homelessness and ensure public safety along the river corridor.
The discovery of Balleen’s death adds another tragic chapter to a case that has haunted the Cincinnati community for more than four decades.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
