Petoskey, MI: Wife Of Man Killed In Oct. Charged With Murder

PETOSKEY (AP) - The wife of a 58-year-old Petoskey man who was found fatally shot in October has been charged with first-degree murder, as investigators said they found an empty pistol case at her home along with books about crime scenes and forensics.

Carol Ann Kopenkoskey, 59, was arraigned Thursday in 90th District Court and ordered held without bond, the Emmet County sheriff’s department said. She was arrested Wednesday and is scheduled for a Jan. 14 preliminary hearing to determine if the case goes to trial.

Lyle Kopenkoskey’s body was found Oct. 3 near his parked truck in Resort Township. Police said he had multiple gunshot wounds to the face and upper body.

One bullet from his body was identified as being from a .38-caliber handgun, and an empty pistol case found at Carol Ann Kopenkoskey’s home matched the size of such a gun, the Petoskey News-Review reported. An affidavit said police found books about murder, cleaning up crime scenes, forensics and poisons. Investigators said they believe she had a relationship with a business partner.

Defense lawyer Mary Beth Kur said the case is circumstantial based on what has been released, and she wants the decision on bond to be reconsidered.

“There is no murder weapon, no eyewitnesses, no DNA, no blood, no shell cases, nobody who puts her at the scene. They found books at her house and they think she had a boyfriend,” Kur said.

The sheriff’s department has said Lyle Kopenkoskey was reported missing Oct. 2 by his brother after Kopenkoskey failed to show up for work and didn’t return home. According to the affidavit, the truck was found unlocked with the keys in the passenger compartment.

“The seat was pulled up to a point where (Lyle) would not be able to fit behind the steering wheel,” it said.

Carol Kopenkoskey also is charged with using a firearm during a felony. If convicted of the murder charge, she faces life in prison without parole.