Matthew Mark Fruge, 34, of Boyne City, was bound over to stand trial on a charge of open murder after a preliminary examination held this afternoon in the 90th District Court.

The prosecution presented the testimony of Corporal William Church of the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department, the 911 call of Courtney Fruge to central dispatch on October 1, 2015 and the autopsy report.

Church testified that he was one of the first officers on the scene and that Fruge ran at the officers before being subdued by a taser.  Church also observed the victim, Jacob Conklin, and was present when an EMT confirmed he was deceased.

Fruge’s wife Courtney told Church as well as the 911 dispatcher that Fruge had stabbed Conklin.  The autopsy report found that Conklin was stabbed ten times, including seven in the left shoulder and upper chest.

Dr. David Start, the forensic pathologist from Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, opined that those stab wounds were the cause of death and that the manner of death was homicide.

Based upon this evidence, Judge James N. Erhart found probable cause to believe that a homicide was committed and probable cause to believe it was committed by Fruge.

A scheduling conference will take place in the 33rd Circuit Court at a date to be determined.