Michigan man accused of killing wife, 2 kids with USB cord
EASTPOINTE, Mich. - A 38-year-old man accused of strangling his wife, their 2-year-old daughter and their 8-year-old son with a USB cord told a judge Wednesday that he wants to plead insanity.
Timothy Fradeneck was arraigned on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his wife and children, whose bodies were found Monday in their Eastpointe home. He is also charged with child abuse.
Authorities say that Fradeneck used a USB cord to kill 37-year-old Christine Fradeneck and the children, Celeste Fradeneck and Timothy Fradeneck III.
At Fradeneck's arraignment Wednesday, Eastpointe District Judge Carl Gerds III asked if he wanted to say anything.
"No, sir," Fradeneck said.
The judge then ordered him jailed without bond.
"I would like to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of mental insanity," Fradeneck said.
The judge then told him he had already ruled.
"I tried to kill myself," Fradeneck said, adding, "It wasn't about ." before Gerds cut him off.
The judge scheduled a hearing April 28 in advance of a probable-cause hearing on whether Fradeneck will stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court.
Police discovered the bodies after getting a call from Christine Fradeneck's sister, saying she was worried about her sister.
Police say Timothy Fradeneck opened the door and let the officers enter.
"Timothy advised officers that his family was dead and that he had killed them by strangulation with a USB cable," Detective Matt Hambright told the judge.
CBS Detroit reports it was revealed at the arraignment that Fradeneck allegedly told police he had been contemplating killing his family since last August and acted on the plan Sunday because the opportunity presented itself.
The family issued a statement Wednesday, saying it was "hopeful that the justice system will prevail and the person responsible for this will be punished to the fullest extent of the law."
Kate Fradeneck said her brother was dealing with a mental illness and asked the public to keep him in their thoughts. The family members have not elaborated on Timothy Fradeneck's mental illness.
"Even with the poor choices that he made, please remember he's also lost his family," she told The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens. "No one knows or can understand the pain that he is in."
CBS Detroit reports authorities have said there had been no previous reported incidents of domestic violence at the Fradeneck's Eastpointe residence.