Evansville man charged with confinement and assault 6 months after murder charges dropped

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – An Evansville man previously charged with the murder of Patrick White in 2022 has been arrested after authorities say he assaulted a woman and kept her confined in a home.

Michael Thomas was arrested after a woman told investigators Thomas repeatedly hit her and would not let her leave a home in December of 2023. An affidavit says the woman went to the home to collect some of her things on December 2. When she arrived, she said Thomas got mad and grabbed her saying she couldn’t leave until he said she could.

The woman reportedly ran to the back yard and screamed for help. She told investigators she ran down the alley, but Thomas caught up with her and tackled her and punched her in the back of the head.

Thomas was arrested in connection to the 2022 murder of Patrick White, after someone told police they overheard Thomas talk about moving a body. White went missing in July of 2022, and he was later found wrapped in a blanket. In July of 2023, charges against Thomas were dismissed without prejudice, meaning he could be charged again for the murder if more evidence is found.

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