So people only got to see, I think, little glimpses of the bad things about him and, unfortunately, I dont think they realized how bad it was getting.. On the night his wife died, Richard Guichelaar called 911 at about 3:30 a.m. to report that he had found her dead in their bed, according to the probable cause affidavit obtained by MLive.com and WOOD. Richard Guichelaar, 36, was sentenced Thursday, April 28 in Kent County Circuit Court to a minimum 33 years, four months in prison. Amber Guichelaar met Richard Guichelaar when she taught Spanish at South Christian High School, where his father was principal. She was just so loving and caring and a fixer, and she always wanted him to be better and covered for him. Autopsy shows Kentwood Public Schools teacher found dead was assaulted You killed her intentionally, Kent County Judge Mark Trusock said. In trauma situations, the district and building leadership continue to provide ongoing support to students and staff as they grieve this loss. The tragic killing happened in November. My wife isnt breathing, he sobbed, stumbling to get his words out. The assistant prosecutor, Wurstman, said its common for domestic violence survivors to hide the abuse. Theres just no excuse or justification for this brutal and senseless murder. Mom Allegedly Strangled and Dismembered Her, Searched 'How to Get Away with Murder', Teen Who Vanished While Working on Science Project Found Dead in Remote Calif. Woods: 'Devastating News', Beloved Va. Church Elder, 88, Is Mauled to Death by Dog While Walking to Sister's House, Woman Accused of Kidnapping Ashley Bush Allegedly Wanted to Keep the Woman's Unborn Baby as Her Own. He will be eligible for parole consideration after 33 years in custody. "You killed her intentionally, Kent County Judge Mark Trusock said. Certain materials reproduced on this website are believed to be in the public domain. KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) When Richard Guichelaar strangled the life from his wifes body, he thought he had silenced her voice forever. 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. Man sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing wife All information published by mugshots.com is believed to be factually true and correct, and is not intended to malign, disparage, or defame any person named herein. Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Killing Wife - US News A GoFundMe account has been set up for Guichelaar's two daughters. It was typical of the young mum. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. DeGraaf said her daughter put God first and her family second, especially her beloved daughters, who were ages 2 and a half and 8 months when their mom was stolen from them. Exactly who Amber chose for their care. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Including but not limited to; a traffic stop, citation issuance or initial investigation of alleged crime scene. Asked if he was pleading guilty because he is, Guichelaar told the. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. But again, it seemed like Amber tried to get people to at least believe that the medication was working, that things were going well What happens behind closed doors, people dont necessarily see, Wustman said. During a six-minute hearing, Richard Guichelaar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault of a pregnant individual. Kentwood man pleads to killing pregnant wife | WOODTV.com He was charged with second-degree murder and intentionally assaulting a pregnant woman. He has not yet entered a plea and remains held in jail until his next court date, scheduled for Jan. 21. Do not let your abuser hurt you anymore. He said he waited for Amber to give the baby a dummy but the baby kept crying, so he went upstairs to check on them and found Amber dead. Amber Guichelaar, 32, was killed at her Kentwood home in November 2020. The Guichelaars 8-month-old daughter slept in a crib in their bedroom. Amber talked about the violence shed suffered and even listed Guichelaars angry outbursts. Man breaks down at sentencing hearing for killing his pregnant wife 18,145 views Apr 28, 2022 Richard Guichelaar, who killed his pregnant wife Amber Guichelaar in November 2020, was sentenced. He will be eligible for parole consideration after 33 years in custody. In his interview with police, Richard Guichelaars father, George Guichelaar, told Dykgraaf there was a 98% chance his son was guilty. What you did to your wife, your children, to the family of Amber and her friends, is beyond comprehension, quite frankly, he said. (She) did her best to live and love like Jesus.. Were just broken.. 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 their two children, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by MLive.com and WOOD-TV. I think the hard part is, Amber did a really good job of covering for him, Wustman said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Judge Mark Trusock set a maximum release date of 100 years. Richard James Guichelaar entered a guilty plea in the strangling death of his pregnant wife, 32-year-old Amber Guichelaar. Two days later, Amber Guichelaar was dead and police had a prime suspect in her husband. Ask Ellen: Why does the sun look bigger on the horizon? The word "arrest" on Mugshots.com means the apprehension of a person or the deprivation of a person's liberty. . The sentencing guidelines for these charges range from more than 20 years to more than 33 years behind bars. Man sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing wife - WZZM13.com None of the versions added up, according to family and friends. Relationships should be free of abuse! 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. 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. The following Official Record of RICHARD JAMES GUICHELAAR is being He was crying and sounded distressed. April 29, 2022 / 9:36 AM Richard Guichelaars sister said her first thought upon learning her sister-in-law was dead was, Richard did it, and that he may have flew into a rage and couldnt gain control., He is an angry person, the sister told the detective, according to his report. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. An autopsy would later determine that the mother had injuries consistent with an assault which occurred just prior to her death, according to the affidavit. She was a local teacher and the mother of two children. Target 8 used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain investigative reports compiled by detectives from the Kentwood Police Department. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He told the judge that he was unable to find words to express his "sorrow, remorse and regret" for what happened. Through her mission work and being in Guatemala, I think there was some frustration with the language barrier, explained DeGraaf, who believes her daughter pursued her degree in Spanish so she could bridge that gap. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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). That by speaking out and sharing Ambers story, if someone is in a relationship like this, please know it could cost you your life and please, please seek help.. Theres none whatsoever.. OK? the dispatcher instructed. Have a news tip? Know you are worthy and loved by so many., That is our biggest hope, Amy DeGraaf said. Amber Guichelaar previously taught Spanish at South Christian High School where her father-in-law, George Guichelaar, formerly served as principal. He will be eligible for parole consideration after 33 years in custody. While she had confessed secretly on paper, Amber was trying to deal with it all alone. In April this year, Guichelaar was sentenced and made a brief statement. Her children are her living legacy and they will grow to know how much their angel momma loved them & be raised on the Living Word of Christ, Brittany wrote to Target 8. Man breaks down at sentencing hearing for killing his - YouTube Amber Guichelaar was the mother of two young children and taught for Kentwood Public Schools. Richard James Guichelaar, 35, was arrested Saturday and booked into the jail. My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter, granddaughter. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. RICHARD JAMES GUICHELAAR. He told the judge that he was unable to find words to express his "sorrow, remorse and regret" for what happened. Do you know of a related media coverage to this person and/or Michigan Man Sentenced To 33 Years In Prison For Killing - CBS News You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Both parents told Dykgraaf they were scared because Richard Guichelaar was staying with them while police investigated. Related: Man charged in pregnant wifes slaying held on $2 million bond. When Ambers sister asked by text what she wanted for her birthday, she replied, a new husband.. The mother of two was found dead at her home on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Man charged with strangling pregnant wife who was teacher On Thursday, Richard Guichelaar was sentenced to the longest prison term allowed by guidelines a minimum of about 33 years and a maximum 100. Company. 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. Richard Guichelaar, 35, was . Though Amber Guichelaar wrote notes documenting her husbands abuse, its clear those papers were a secret dairy. Would he ever kill me?'. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. I felt as if it were what God was calling me to do. What you did to your wife, your children, to the family of Amber and her friends, is beyond comprehension, quite frankly, he said. However, they appeared to be notes that Amber had written about Richard, one of which said, He isnt someone I want around my children. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. All Rights Reserved. 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. The word "booked", when used by mugshots.com, is identical in meaning to the word "arrest". Task force: Systems need better understanding of domestic violence lethality factors, Safe Haven Ministries: What keeps people in abusive relationships, Safe Haven Ministries: Recognizing domestic violence, Richard Guichelaar pleaded guilty Feb. 21, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Honest toddler helps Kentucky police arrest wanted, Feds upgrading inspection technology at ports of, 1 arrested after robbing GR Meijer with pepper spray, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at, Consumers: No widespread outages expected in storm, After 126 years, U.P.s only private college to close, Parent alert: Teens dying by suicide amid sextortion, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Published mugshots and/or arrest records are previously published public records of: an arrest, an indictment, a registration, supervision or probation, the deprivation of liberty or a detention. For latest case status, contact the official Law Enforcement Agency which originally released the information. And the bedroom had been hot because the thermostat was set at 25.5C it had never been set that high before. 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. Suspect charged in death of Kentwood teacher, Arrest made in 2020 death of Kentwood Public Schools teacher. 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. Trusock called it a brutal and senseless murder. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family as they cope with this tragedy.. Yes. "My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter and so many other things," Guichelaar said. Guichelaar has pleaded guilty plea for second-degree murder and. You may leave a message for the family by clicking here. On one of the pieces of paper, wrote Dykgraaf in his report, she listed off the following: -He has beaten me-Kicked and punched (blotted) me-Threw a mug (blotted words) big screen TV-Smashed my cell phones-Punched glass shower door-Broken four doors-Smashed counter w/ hammer-Punched hole in the wall. Richard Guichelaar, 35, was arraigned on the charge in Kentwood District Court. 'Am I safe sleeping next to him?': Murder victim's words - WOODTV The victims mother, Amy DeGraaf, spoke at the sentencing and asked the judge to consider the two young children. Richard Guichelaar works for a landscaping and snowplowing business, MLive.com reports. He suggested that Amber had accidentally strangled herself. 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. The mystery of why does someone choose to stay when it could cost them their life? Amy DeGraaf said. Her mom, who FaceTimed with her daughter multiple times a day during quarantine, said she had no idea the violence her daughter was enduring, nor the danger she faced. My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter, granddaughter. But Rachel Wustman, the assistant prosecutor on the case for Kent County, told News 8 the autopsy revealed Amber Guichelaar could not have caused her own strangulation. Her sister told the detective that she knew the couple had a physical fight several years earlier but thought things had gotten better. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter and so many other things, Guichelaar said. Because prosecutors could not prove premeditation, they charged him with second-degree murder instead of first, as well as intentionally assaulting a pregnant person. Theres none whatsoever.. Man sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing wife - Court TV Cops found notes in which Amber described her fears her husband could kill her, Families terrorised by 'scary' children who dump smashed-up toys and decorations, Naked multi-millionaire and his wife found stabbed to death in mystery killing. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV.