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15-year-old arraigned on open murder charge in Midland County death

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Kelly Dame

Officials are mum on what was behind a Tuesday morning stabbing that left a 17-year-old dead, three hurt, and a 15-year-old boy charged with murder.

Steven Jeffrey Pribbernow Jr. is charged as an adult in the case, and faces one count of open murder plus three counts of assault with the intent to murder.

Officials released the names of the victims in the attack at a Geneva Township home late this morning. The Daily News had already learned those names though court documents not filed in this case and through comments made to the paper's website.

Killed was 17-year-old Justin Steven Pribbernow. Injured were Kody Christopher Pribbernow, 13 1/2; Kevin David Pribbernow, 15; and Joshua Saylor, 32. Saylor was taken by FlightCare to the St. Mary's of Michigan Hospital where he was in fair condition this morning. Kody was believed taken to MidMichigan Medical Center, where a spokeswoman said he was not listed in the hospital's patient directory. Kevin was believed taken to Covenant HealthCare, and a spokeswoman said he was not listed as a patient. All three underwent surgery, officials have said.

At Steven Pribbernow's arraignment, conducted late Tuesday afternoon, Midland County Prosecutor Mike Carpenter asked District Judge Stephen P. Carras to deny bail and place Pribbernow in the county jail rather than the Juvenile Care Center. Carpenter said considering the ages of the juvenile victims, Pribbernow presents a risk to other youngsters at the detention center.

Midland attorney Dan Duke has been appointed by the court as defense attorney, and said he discussed the prosecutor's request with Pribbernow.

"I think at the present time … it makes sense," to place his client in the jail, Duke said.

Pribbernow was brought to the hearing, his hands cuffed behind his back, scratches visible on his right forearm. He wore a baggy dark blue patterned polo shirt and green slacks that emphasized his small stature, facing Carras as he read the charges. At the third count, Pribbernow looked down.

Both open murder and assault with the intent to commit murder are punishable by up to life in prison. In making the decision to charge the teen as an adult, Carpenter said he took into account the seriousness of the case as well as other aggravating factors.

Carpenter said laws regarding juveniles dictate that youngsters must be charged within 24 hours of the offense. He said family dynamics include numerous children, a divorce and adoptions - the records of which are sealed as a matter of customary court rules. The home is not a foster care provider, local court officials said.

Joshua Saylor is the husband of Jessica Pribbernow, who is the adoptive mother of five boys and the biological mother of two girls with her ex-husband. All of the children, including the adopted boys, share her last name. State appeals court documents show the adopted boys were taken away from their biological parents due to neglect and failure to protect. They share one biological mother; the oldest three share the same biological father, while the youngest two have a different biological father.

Jessica Pribbernow's ex-husband lives in the Farwell area, officials said in court. They were unable to contact him before the arraignment.

Midland Public Schools Superintendent Carl Ellinger said some of the Pribbernow children attend schools within the district. He said "a couple" of them attend MPS elementary schools, and one attends a middle school.

"It's a very difficult situation for the family and the communities involved," Ellinger said.

"From what I know … they're good kids," Ellinger continued. "Just a nice, normal family coming to the school system."

The stabbing was reported at 6:30 a.m. by Jessica Pribbernow, bringing all on-duty sheriff's deputies, the Coleman Community Fire Department, four ambulances from MidMichigan Medical Center EMS, Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Dennis Wagner and the helicopter, which landed in the home's front yard.

First responders were told to wait a distance from the home while deputies secured the scene before entering to render medical aid.

The suspect also was hurt, and was taken to MidMichigan after the incident. Midland County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Goodall said Pribbernow was taken into custody without incident and he did not know how the boy was hurt.

Goodall said the weapon was a knife, but he did not know what kind of knife.

There were family members inside the home who were not injured, and they were interviewed by a detective.

The home - a ranch with a basement and attached garage - is set back from the road, accessible by a gravel drive and ringed by a fence and pine trees. Technicians from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab at Bridgeport also were at the scene collecting evidence.

2009 Oct 13