Woman Admits Her Part in Motel Relax Death of Mentally Ill Man

The woman who admitted giving hydrocodone to a man who died of a drug overdose at Urbandale's  in December has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Christina Garner, 55, was originally in the death of Michael Mehalovich. Both were tenants at the extended-stay motel. 

Garner pleaded guilty to that charge and a drug delivery charge and was sentenced to 10 years on June 18, according to court records.

Mehalovich, 26, was found unresponsive in his room on Dec. 16 and was declared dead at Broadlawns Hospital.

His mother, Tammy Rude, said and she moved him to the Motel Relax in Urbandale believing it would be safer for him.

She and the sister of another man who died of a drug overdose at the Motel Relax saying they wanted it cleaned up or shut down. Police had been called to the motel more than 500 times in the previous three years.

Police Chief Ross McCarty said he's been pleased with the management's responsiveness to police requests to get rid of problem tenants in the past six months. He will be reviewing a report on incidents by mid-July.