Eaton woman who admitted to drowning 93-year-old grandmother pleads not guilty

EATON — The woman who admitted to drowning her 93-year-old grandmother is pleading not guilty.

Heidi Matheny, 35, of Eaton, told officers she drowned her grandmother, according to video News Center 7 received from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office.

>>VIDEO: Body camera footage shows moments Eaton woman admits to drowning 93-year-old grandmother

The court entered a not guilty plea on Matheny’s behalf on Friday. Prior to that, a written plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was submitted by Matheny’s attorneys, according to Preble County Common Pleas Court.

In November, Eaton police were dispatched to the 300 block of East Somers Street on the report of a possible homicide, according to a spokesperson for the police department.

A police report obtained through a News Center 7 public records request stated Matheny told police that she went behind her grandmother while she was doing dishes and she held her head in the sink “until she stopped blowing bubbles.”

Matheny told police she wasn’t sure if her grandmother was dead yet, so she filled up the bathtub and held her under for 15 minutes until she stopped breathing and left her in the bathtub.

>>RELATED: $500,000 bond set for Eaton woman accused of drowning 93-year-old grandmother

Matheny will continue to be held on a $500,000 bond.

She’s scheduled to appear in court next on March 2, according to online court records.

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