Guichelaar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and. She was found dead on her bed under what police have described as suspicious circumstances, according to. She stated she did not know what the fight was about, possibly Richard not helping with children, but Richard picked up the high-chair and broke it, Dykgraaf wrote. Relationships should be free of abuse! My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter and so many other things, Guichelaar said. Plus, he never got up for the children he always left it to Amber. The prosecution said they couldnt determine what had triggered Guichelaar to kill his wife that day but she had been in a violent relationship that had escalated, resulting in her death. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She was found dead on her bed under what police have described as "suspicious" circumstances, according to a statement from the Kentwood Police Department. In trauma situations, the district and building leadership continue to provide ongoing support to students and staff as they grieve this loss. A graduate of Calvin College, Amber Guichelaar began her career teaching Spanish at South Christian High School for four years, she wrote in an essay on Prezi in 2014. (Amber) was very fun, her mom said. Guichelaar told police hed slept downstairs on the sofa that night as their bedroom was too hot, and he was woken by the sound of their baby crying. At the time of her death, Amber Guichelaar was teaching English as a second language to middle schoolers in the Kentwood Public School District. Did you strangle your wife and kill her? the judge asked him. Were just broken.. Her father-in-law, George Guichelaar, formerly served as principal of the high school. Ummm, but he can get so angry. Hed also thrown a mug at the TV, smashed her mobiles, broken doors and slammed his fist into the wall. Do you know of a related media coverage to this person and/or Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Amber Guichelaar was the mother of two young children and taught for Kentwood Public Schools. When paramedics arrived, Amber was pronounced dead three days before her 33rd birthday. On the night she died, Richard Guichelaar was the only person at home "capable of causing such injuries," the affidavit says. KENTWOOD, Mich. (AP) A man who strangled his pregnant wife, a well-liked teacher in the Grand Rapids area, was sentenced Thursday to at least 33 years in prison. She died from asphyxiation, and it was caused by someone else, Wustman told News 8 in a recent interview, noting the medical examiner documented some abrasions Amber Guichelaar did not have when she FaceTimed with her sister earlier that night. Shes purple, and shes not breathing.. Police said Richard Guichelaar had been the only person home at the time of the alleged crime who would have been physically capable of causing the injuries that led to her death. Amber Guichelaar, 32, was killed at her home on Nov. 16, police said. The assistant prosecutor told Target 8 she doesnt know why the violence turned deadly that night in November, nor whether Richard Guichelaar had planned to kill his wife. Shes right here, he said. Amber talked about the violence shed suffered and even listed Guichelaars angry outbursts. Richard Guichelaar later told Kentwood police he had slept on a downstairs couch that night because the couples bedroom was too hot. He told the judge that he was unable to find words to express his "sorrow, remorse and regret" for what happened. While several of Amber Guichelaars close friends knew her husband had extreme mood swings and would sometimes break things in fits of anger, they told the detective they never saw him physically assault her. Her children were her everything.. Because prosecutors could not prove premeditation, they charged him with second-degree murder instead of first, as well as intentionally assaulting a pregnant person. Guichelaar has pleaded guilty plea for second-degree murder and. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Police: Man dies in fight at Wyoming hotel parking, Mexican AG sacked in wake of bloody prison break, Kent Co. Community Action walks to keep homes heated, 1 hospitalized following Port Sheldon Township crash, I see you, Jaylyn Boones journey to success, Bill Steffen T-shirts launched by The Mitten State. These companies may use information (not including your name, address email address or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. This was an absolutely atrocious and terrible situation. See more Show your support Send Flowers Send flowers or a gift to a service or family's home. However, the department did not release any information about the suspect. (She) said they asked (Richard) about what happened before they went to bed (the night Amber died) and she said that Richard told her, I will admit, I was really mad it was taking (Amber) so long to wrap things up,' wrote Dykgraf in his report, noting that he was referring to his wife locking up the house before bed. You killed her intentionally, Kent County Judge Mark Trusock said. Still, despite Richard Guichelaars violent history, it seems no one considered he might kill his wife. Alex Murdaugh: Inside the Mind of a Killer, Mallory Beachs Family Attorney Speaks to Court TV. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. I think it's mainly because I love being around people, and I love learning.". The fact that she would go to the extent of writing those (notes) and that she was trying to deal with it all on her own, and shouldering that all on her own shoulders is just such a heartache for her Dad and I, for her brother and sister, for her friends Sadness and just so many unknowns and just the devastation of what domestic violence can lead to, she said. She loved very hard & would never let a day go by without you knowing how much she loved you. I need you to take her out of the room and shut the door, OK?. She was rooted in Jesus Christ and her actions and words proved that. unconstitutional mugshot laws, exonerations, arrest records, FBI most wanted, editorials, opinion. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. I dont know why that happened. Richard Guichelaar was arrested on Saturday in connection with the death of his wife, a beloved 32-year-old teacher, who died of strangulation on Nov. 16 at the home she shared with him and. Her husband called 911 around 3:30 a.m. that morning to report that he had found his wife dead on their bed, according to a probable-cause affidavit obtained by the outlet. Cook Funeral and Cremation Services Amber Guichelaar was born on November 19, 1987 and passed away on November 16, 2020 and is under the care of. His bond has been set at $2 million and is scheduled to appear again in court on January 21. Finally, I didnt understand what was going on, so I got up to check on (their daughter) and uh, I saw Amber.'. Her patience and sense of fun made her hugely popular with the students. There's none whatsoever.". In his interview with police, Richard Guichelaars father, George Guichelaar, told Dykgraaf there was a 98% chance his son was guilty. Outside the courtroom the day of the plea, there was an incredible show of grace as Amy DeGraaf hugged Richard Guichelaars father, George Guichelaar. Richard Guichelaar pleaded guilty Feb. 21 in a six-minute hearing before Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock. - Merriam Webster dictionary. PRISON GATES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SWING OPEN, https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/kentwood-man-charged-with-murder-. Related: Man charged in pregnant wifes slaying held on $2 million bond. Yes. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. However, at home he frustrated Amber with how little he helped her out with the family. on 1/11/2021. I do, he said. Ga. Police Officer Arrested After Naked Body of Missing 16-Year-Old Girl Found in Woods, Salt Life Founder Pleads Guilty After Killing 18-Year-Old Girlfriend While They Were 'Playing' with Gun, Suspect in Death of Pregnant Mom Found Next to Car with Son Inside Was Recently Acquitted of Unrelated Murder, N.J. Kindergarten Teacher Who Mysteriously Didn't Come to Work Is Found Dead in Shallow Grave the Next Day, 2 Students from Same Atlanta High School Found Dead, Police Say Cases Are Unrelated, Texas Man Accused of Stabbing His 8-Year-Old Grandson to Death, Adam Zimmer's Cause of Death Confirmed Almost 2 Months After He Was Found Dead: Reports, Arkansas Boy, 6, Found Dead Under Floorboards Allegedly Drowned in Toilet by Mother's Boyfriend, Husband of Missing Pa. While he declined to comment on the arrest of his son, George said he and his wife are grieving the loss of their daughter-in-law and unborn grandchild. In an essay published online in 2014, Amber wrote about why she became a teacher. But her words, even after death, gave the investigators a unique insight into their marriage and pointed the finger straight at Guichelaar. The girls are now being raised by Amber Guichelaars sister, Brittany, and her husband. Opinions expressed in comments across this website are solely those of our visitors. She told no one about the physical assaults she was enduring. Trusock added that he though Guichelaar was a danger to society and that he didnt think he should ever be set free. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. His parents said their son developed mental health issues as a young teen after suffering several concussions. In his report, Detective Tim Dykgraaf wrote of the discovery police made while searching the 32-year-old wife and mothers minivan one day after her death. She was one of a kind, honestly. Theres just no excuse or justification for this brutal and senseless murder. "I felt as if it were what God was calling me to do. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! #mugshots, We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. Richard James Guichelaar entered a guilty plea in the strangling death of his pregnant wife, 32-year-old Amber Guichelaar. In court documents obtained by Target 8, investigators said Richard Guichelaar had called 911 on Nov. 16 and stated he had found his wife, Amber, dead in their bed. He told the judge that he was unable to find words to express his "sorrow, remorse and regret" for what happened. "Mugshot unavailable": A mugshot may or may have not been taken by authorities. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family as they cope with this tragedy.. (She) did her best to live and love like Jesus.. I think its mainly because I love being around people, and I love learning.. The pathologist who conducted Guichelaars autopsy, told News 8 several weeks ago that he had asked Kentwood Police to do some additional investigation to assist him in determining the manner of death. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). All rights reserved. Kentwood Police confirmed Saturday a suspect was charged with open murder in Amber Guichelaars death. The couple had two children, the 8-month-old and a toddler, and Amber Guichelaar was newly pregnant with their third child. Before taking the position at Kentwood, Amber Guichelaar had worked at South Christian High School teaching Spanish. Policy | Do Not Sell My Info | Privacy Center | Cookie Policy | Terms Of Use, Posted at 10:49 PM, April 28, 2022 and last updated 10:49 PM, April 28, 2022, Murdaugh Trial: Lingering Unanswered Questions, SC Attorney Says Satterfield Case is Up Next. For some reason, she chose to stay in a situation that obviously cost her her life, and that is the mystery of Ambers story and the unknown of Ambers story but also of domestic violence and domestic abuse in itself. He said Guichelaar was a danger to society and should never be free, then sentenced him to life in jail with a minimum 33 years and a maximum 100. In February this year, 36-year-old Guichelaar pleaded guilty. Richard Guichelaar stands with his attorney Chip Chamberlain while looking at Judge Mark Trusock during Guichelaar's sentencing hearing at the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Thursday, April 28, 2022. In the center console I located loose leaf notebook papers, written in marker, Dykgraaf wrote in his report, later noting that Amber Guichelaars parents confirmed her handwriting. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree . News 8 spoke with George Guichelaar on Saturday.
[email protected], visit ourFacebook pageorTwitter. But it seemed like a very unlikely explanation. She later moved to the Kentwood Public Schools where she taught students learning English as a second language. The pills also reportedly made him angry, so he took them right before bed, and, if the girls awakened in the night, Amber Guichelaar made sure she jumped up to care for them. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here. Trusock sentenced Richard Guichelaar to between 33 years, 4 months and 100 years in prison for killing his pregnant wife Amber Guichelaar in November 2020. The district said it had been cooperating with law enforcement officials as part of the investigation. Police said Amber Guichelaar, 32, a mother of two and a teacher at a Kentwood school, was found dead. KENTWOOD, MI - A man accused of strangling his pregnant wife, a Kentwood teacher, was ordered held Monday, Jan. 11, on $2 million bond. Richard Guichelaar, who strangled his pregnant wife, a well-liked teacher in the Grand Rapids area, was sentenced Thursday to at least 33 years in prison. Shes purple and not breathing.. Guichelaar called 911 to report finding his wife dead in . When the judge shared his thoughts with Guichelaar, he described Ambers death as brutal and senseless. Amber Guichelaar, 32, was killed at her Kentwood home in November 2020. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here.