Her father-in-law, George Guichelaar, formerly served as principal of the high school. 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. You strangled your wife, he said. (The friend) stated the most recent fight she could think of was during the initial COVID 19 outbreak when everything was locked down and everyone was quarantined in the house together. She was rooted in Jesus Christ and her actions and words proved that. Do not let your abuser hurt you anymore. First published on April 29, 2022 / 9:36 AM. "We rejoice for Amber is with her heavenly father but her two girls are still here," organizer Carley Veltema wrote. The neighbors sued the Guichelaar family and were granted a $501,000 settlement in February of 2020. Official Record was collected Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. When the judge asked him whether he knew she was pregnant at the time, he confirmed that he did. She was found dead on her bed under what police have described as suspicious circumstances, according to a statement from the Kentwood Police Department. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The sister of Amber Guichelaar, who had been just three days shy of her 33rd birthday, had reportedly talked to her via Facetime around 8:30 p.m. the night before she died. The dispatcher then asked if there were children in the house. constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. 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. KENTWOOD, Mich. - A Grand Rapids -area teacher pregnant with a third child was strangled by her husband, authorities said Monday as they filed a murder charge. 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. Guichelaar has pleaded guilty plea for second-degree murder and one count of assault on a pregnant woman causing miscarriage with intent or recklessness. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family as they cope with this tragedy.". Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. Theres none whatsoever.. All Rights Reserved. An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation or prevention of crime and presenting (the arrestee) to a procedure as part of the criminal justice system. My daughters right next to us. 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. Do you know of a related media coverage to this person and/or Husband gets 33 years in prison for wife's murder - YouTube Reaching out and letting someone know may free you of the loneliness, shame, isolation, fear that you feel due to the abuse of your abuser, Brittany wrote. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family as they cope with this tragedy.. She had a wonderful sense of humor. It also confirmed she was pregnant at the time of her death, which occurred three days before her 33rd birthday. He was crying and sounded distressed. He told the judge that he was unable to find words to express his sorrow, remorse and regret for what happened. Man sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing wife - WLUC Amber explained that Guichelaar controlled every conversation and that he did nothing to help her around the house. Michigan Man Held For Strangling Pregnant Wife "Did you strangle your wife and kill her?". 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. Related: Man charged in pregnant wifes slaying held on $2 million bond. What he said made him finally wake up and get up was hearing the baby cry and, again, (Ambers) sister said he never got up with the baby. KENTWOOD, Mich. 36-year-old Richard Guichelaar admitted to killing his pregnant wife, more than a year after she was found dead. The couples children were ages 2 and 3. Guichelaar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and. She said he had beaten, kicked, punched and threatened her. Before taking the position at Kentwood, Amber Guichelaar had worked at South Christian High School teaching Spanish. Including but not limited to; a traffic stop, citation issuance or initial investigation of alleged crime scene. Mugshot - A photograph of usually a person's head and especially face; specifically : a police photograph of a suspect's face or profile." Amber Guichelaar, 32, was killed at her home on Nov. 16, police said. 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. "Amber's sister Brittany will be taking care of the girls and their future! When paramedics arrived, Amber was pronounced dead three days before her 33rd birthday. The only person at home at the time of the crime who was physically capable of causing the fatal injuries was Guichelaar. Through her mission trips over the years, through her teaching years at South Christian & Crestwood Middle School. Some had suffered water damage but it was clear that they were documenting the struggles she was having with her husband. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. This This was an absolutely atrocious and terrible situation. "My whole life, it seems, being a teacher is what I wanted to do," she wrote. "This has been a difficult time for the Kentwood family, the students, staff, and ultimately the involved families," Kentwood Public Schools said in a statement. Because when tragic Ambers words were finally heard, it was too late for her. In addition, "Statements given by Richard do not fully explain the circumstances which resulted in Amber's death," the detective assigned to the cause wrote in the document, MLive.com reports. She noted she decided to major in Spanish after a mission trip to Guatemala following her freshman year in college. Tragic Amber Guichelaar's words would help lock up the brute who strangled her. Murdaugh and Prosecutor Creighton Waters Went to Law School Together, Prosecutions Best Evidence in Alex Murdaugh Trial, SC v. Alex Murdaugh: Murdaugh Family Murders, Murdaugh Trial: Lingering Unanswered Questions WATCH NOW, SC Attorney Says Satterfield Case is Up Next WATCH NOW, What Will Alex Murdaughs New Life Behind Bars Be Like? I need you to take her out of the room and shut the door, OK?. 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. He is dangerous and I have literally thought to myself, am I safe asleep next to him? (She) stated that when she would hear about these fights it would be after the fact when Amber would mention it during conversation by saying things along the lines of Richard is doing better because he broke his Xbox, Dykgraaf reported. As her husband awaits his next court date, Amber Guichelaar's family, friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of the middle school teacher. Then, at 3.30am on 16 November, Guichelaar called 911. Amber Guichelaar, 32, died Nov. 16 at the home she shared with her husband at 1432 Andrew SE in Kentwood. She had, I think she had a sweatshirt around her neck and shes not breathing., He said hed found her in her bed in their bedroom. He choked back tears as he acknowledged in open court that he. On the night she died, Richard Guichelaar was the only person at home "capable of causing such injuries," the affidavit says. Amber Guichelaar, 32, was killed at her Kentwood home in November 2020. Grand Rapids, MI A Kentwood man is in the Kent County jail, facing a charge of open murder in the death of his pregnant wife. No. arrest? Hell throw things, hell punch things, hell yeah, he just rage, rage.'. However, she continued to smile and make out that everything was fine. For latest case status, contact the official Law Enforcement Agency which originally released the information. In trauma situations, the district and building leadership continue to provide ongoing support to students and staff as they grieve this loss. Amber Guichelaar was pregnant with her third child when she was killed. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The term is Anglo-Norman in origin and is related to the French word arrt, meaning "stop". The judge has indicated the sentence will fall within the guidelines. Relationships should be free of abuse! Guichelaar has pleaded guilty plea for second-degree murder and. It was a passion likely sparked when she first traveled to Guatemala on a church mission trip as a high schooler. The couple had two young children, and Amber was pregnant with a third child when she died. It was typical of the young mum. Man sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing wife Theres just no excuse or justification for this brutal and senseless murder. What Will Alex Murdaughs New Life Behind Bars Be Like? Grand Rapids-area man charged with murder after strangling - WJBK Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Her children were her everything.. PRISON GATES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SWING OPEN, https://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/kentwood-man-charged-with-murder-. The dispatcher asked if he thought that Amber was beyond being saved. Shes purple, and shes not breathing.. Amber Guichelaar met Richard Guichelaar when she taught Spanish at South Christian High School, where his father was principal. Amber talked about the violence shed suffered and even listed Guichelaars angry outbursts. She said Amber Guichelaars sister, who has no children of her own yet, has stepped in to the role of mother for the young girls. He was charged with second-degree murder and intentionally assaulting a pregnant woman. He will be eligible for parole consideration after 33 years in custody. He will be eligible for parole consideration after 33 years in custody. The mere questions and/or reports presented on this website about a possible arrest of a person are not an implication of an actual arrest. She could always make you laugh. She was a local teacher and the mother of two children. His attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. That just wasnt what he did, Wustman explained to News 8. She loved very hard & would never let a day go by without you knowing how much she loved you. Her notebook pages documented the struggles she was having with her husband, Richard Guichelaar. (Daniel Shular/The Grand Rapids Press via AP) The Associated Press. Husband Arrested Months After Allegedly Strangling 'Beloved - CafeMom April 29, 2022 / 9:36 AM The 35-year-old father, who was arrested Saturday, is accused of killing his 32-year-old wife, Amber Guichelaar, who was pregnant with their third child. You may leave a message for the family by clicking here. (She) said that Richard then told (her) that the bedroom was hot, and Richard said the thermostat was set to 78 degrees. One thing Richard Guichelaar did do, despite his wifes vehement protest, was watch pornography. While she had confessed secretly on paper, Amber was trying to deal with it all alone. KENTWOOD, MI - A man accused of strangling his pregnant wife, a Kentwood teacher, was ordered held Monday, Jan. 11, on $2 million bond. He choked back tears as he acknowledged in open court that he intentionally strangled his wife and knew she was pregnant at the time. "In trauma situations, the district and building leadership continue to provide ongoing support to students and staff as they grieve this loss. Two of Amber Guichelaars close friends spoke with Dykgraaf on the phone 11 days after Amber Guichelaars death to share what they learned from a conversation with Richard Guichelaar. Richard Guichelaar pleads guilty to murdering his pregnant wife - WXMI This has been a difficult time for the Kentwood family, the students, staff, and ultimately the involved families, the statement said. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. Her sister told the detective that she knew the couple had a physical fight several years earlier but thought things had gotten better. The Guichelaars 8-month-old daughter slept in a crib in their bedroom. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2022 Associated Press. 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. Her cause of death was determined by the medical examiner as the result of strangulation/asphyxiation.. 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. | Privacy So far, well-wishers have donated more than $51,000. (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. On Monday, Richard Guichelaar was arraigned in court on an open murder charge. Now, nearly two months later, police in Kentwood have arrested her husband, Richard James Guichelaar, 35, of Kentwood, Deputy Chief Bryan Litwin of the Kentwood Police Department announced Saturday in a release. I think it's mainly because I love being around people, and I love learning.". His bond has been set at $2 million and is scheduled to appear again in court on January 21. 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. 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. 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. She was a local teacher and the mother of two children. However, the department did not release any information about the suspect. She died three days before her 33rd birthday. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Two days later, Amber Guichelaar was dead and police had a prime suspect in her husband. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? You killed her intentionally, Kent County Judge Mark Trusock said. Yeah he has a whole other side to him and umm, for a few years there, we thought it was really good he was on good medication, and it was almost as if we could breathe a sigh of relief like maybe weve made it through the worst of it. Man sentenced to 33 years in prison for killing wife - WZZM13.com I need you to take her out of the room. A 35-year-old man has been arrested for strangling his pregnant wife at their Michigan home. KENTWOOD, Mich. A Kentwood man accused of killing a pregnant teacher has admitted guilt. In his interview with police, Richard Guichelaars father, George Guichelaar, told Dykgraaf there was a 98% chance his son was guilty. 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. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. unconstitutional mugshot laws, exonerations, arrest records, FBI most wanted, editorials, opinion. After completing an autopsy, the medical examiner ruled Ambers death a homicide by strangulation/asphyxiation, according to court documents. Though Amber Guichelaar wrote notes documenting her husbands abuse, its clear those papers were a secret dairy. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Amber Guichelaar was the mother of two young children and was pregnant with the couples third child when she died. Court documents obtained by WXMI revealed that just over a year before she was killed, the Guichelaars had encountered significant legal trouble. The death certificate listed the location of Amber Guichelaars death as the couples home address on Andrews. But it seemed like a very unlikely explanation. The girls are now being raised by Amber Guichelaars sister, Brittany, and her husband. I think its mainly because I love being around people, and I love learning.. "My wife was a wonderful human being, a wonderful mother, daughter and so many other things," Guichelaar said. Richard Guichelaar, 36, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder. There's none whatsoever.". The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Before taking the position at Kentwood, Amber Guichelaar had worked at South Christian High School teaching Spanish, WOOD-TV reported. Still, despite Richard Guichelaars violent history, it seems no one considered he might kill his wife. Michigan man charged in pregnant wife's murder Wustman, the assistant prosecutor, talked about the valuable information Amber Guichelaars friends and family provided. During Thursdays sentencing, Trusock described the circumstances of her death. Finally, I didnt understand what was going on, so I got up to check on (their daughter) and uh, I saw Amber.'. He will be eligible for parole consideration after 33 years in custody. My wife isnt breathing, he told a dispatcher, stumbling over his words amid panicked sobs. In October 2019, their family dog, an Akita named Shotze, allegedly attacked a neighbors child while they were walking down the street, causing severe facial injuries to the child. Opinions expressed in comments across this website are solely those of our visitors. Amber Guichelaar, 32, was killed at her Kentwood home in November 2020. He has not yet entered a plea and remains held in jail until his next court date, scheduled for Jan. 21.