American husband indicted for murdering his own wife 

72-year-old Stephen Sevedus Maples has been arraigned on open murder charges for the killing of his wife, Cathy Ann Maples

By Edward Era Barbacena

A 72-year-old man has been charged in the shooting death of his wife Friday in Madison Township.

Stephen Sevedus Maples was arraigned Monday in Lenawee County District Court on open murder and felony firearm charges in the death of his wife, Cathy Ann Maples, 72.

The open murder charge allows a jury to decide the degree of murder, should the case go to trial and the jury decide to convict.

According to records there was one prior domestic assault at the residence back in 2005, said a news release from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the case.

Maples is being held on a $1,100,000 bond, the sheriff's office said.

Police were dispatched shortly after 9 p.m. to the Maples' residence on Baldwin Highway after Stephen Maples called 911 to report he had shot his wife, according to an affidavit of probable cause in the Lenawee County District Court case file. When deputies arrived, Maples told them he had shot his wife and she was dead. Deputies found Cathy Maples deceased in a bedroom from multiple gunshot wounds. They also found a .357-caliber handgun in the bedroom.

Investigators are working on information regarding the firearm, the sheriff's office's news release said.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for March 9 and a preliminary examination on March 16, both before District Judge Laura J. Schaedler.

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