Trial begins for man accused of killing, leading police to stabbed body in Dayton

DAYTON — A 39-year-old Dayton man accused of stabbing a man to death at the Wilkinson Plaza Apartments in December 2018 will go on trial today on murder and other charges in connection to the crime.

Laron Cunningham was indicted on seven counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robery, two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of felonious assault and one count of burglary.

Cunningham is accused of killing Michael Oliver, 60, inside an apartment on West Fifth Street Dec. 8.

Cunningham “was found claiming medical distress at the Wilkinson Plaza Apartments on West Fifth Street in Dayton,” prosecutors said.  “Before being released from the hospital the defendant made comments about a deceased body.”

That’s when police took the information and found Oliver’s body stabbed inside his apartment.

Cunningham has previous convictions for robbery, aggravated robbery and felonious assault more than a decade ago.