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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Police say woman stabbed, killed romantic partner in Signal Mountain home

Rhonda Lorna Essenpreis
Rhonda Lorna Essenpreis Rhonda Lorna Essenpreis
photo Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office / Rhonda Lorna Essenpreis

A 63-year-old woman has been charged in the Wednesday stabbing death of a Signal Mountain man believed to be her romantic partner.

Rhonda Lorna Essenpreis is being held at the Silverdale Detention Center in connection with the slaying of Randall Paul Otto, 69, based on evidence at the scene, according to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer J. Matt Lea.

(READ MORE: Signal Mountain mandates masks inside town buildings)

Shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday, Signal Mountain police responded to a 911 call reporting a possible overdose on the 3600 block of Scarlet Maple Court. Once there, they found Otto with an apparent stab wound to the chest. Hamilton County emergency medical services pronounced Otto dead at the scene.

Signal Mountain Detective Randy Poland investigated with the help of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.