Husband is charged with strangling his pregnant wife, 32, to death two months after she was found dead in bed at their home where they lived with their two other children
A Michigan man has been charged with murder in connection with the strangulation death of his wife, two months after she was found unresponsive in the couple's bed .
Richard Guichelaar, 35, was arraigned last week on the murder charge in Kentwood District Court. Bond was set at $2million.
Authorities said Richard killed his wife, 32-year-old Amber Guichelaar, at the family's home near Grand Rapids on November 16. She was a Kentwood teacher and the mother of two children, with a third on the way.
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Richard Guichelaar, 35 (pictured in his mugshot, left), has been charged with open murder for the strangulation death of his pregnant wife, Amber Guichelaar, 32 , in November 2020
Richard called 911 on November 16 to report finding Amber dead in their bed at their home in Kentwood, Michigan
'The death was declared a homicide by strangulation/asphyxiation,' Det. Tim Dykgraaf said in a court filing. 'Richard was the only other person present in the home at the time frame of the incident that was physically capable of causing the injuries that resulted in Amber’s death.'
According to court documents cited by Mlive.com, Richard had called 911 at 3.30am on November 16 and told a dispatcher that he had found his wife dead in their bed at their residence in the 1400 block of Andrew SE in Kentwood.
The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Amber found 'injuries consistent with an assault which accused just prior to her death,' according to the filings.
Amber was pregnant with her third child and would have turned 33 years old on November 19
On January 9, Richard was arrested and arraigned the next day on a charge of open murder.
During the arraignment, Richard, who works for a landscaping and snowplowing company, assured the judge that he was not a flight risk.
'Just know that I will show up for everything I’m supposed to and I’m not a risk, your honor,' he said.
Richard has yet to enter a plea and remains jailed pending his next court appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Amber graduated from Calvin College and had most recently worked for Kentwood Public Schools, where she taught students learning English as a second language, reported WOOD-TV.
The Guichelaars had faced legal and financial woes in recent years, stemming from a 2019 incident in which their pet Akita dog attacked a child, which resulted in a civil lawsuit.
A supporter has launched a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Amber's sister, Britanny, who will be raising her two young daughters.
'We rejoice for Amber is with her heavenly father but her two girls are still here.,' organizer Carley Veltema wrote. 'Amber's sister Brittany will be taking care of the girls and their future!'