Coleman teen charged in murder takes psych exam

By SUSAN FIELD

A rural Coleman teen accused of killing a brother has undergone a psychological examination, but results are not expected for at least two weeks.

No trial date has been set for Steven Pribbernow, 15.

Pribbernow was scheduled to undergo a psychological evaluation at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Washtenaw County last week, Midland County Prosecutor Michael Carpenter said Thursday.

Results, to determine if Pribbernow understands the charges against him and can aid in his own defense, could take two weeks or longer, Carpenter said.

No court dates have been scheduled because results of the examination must be reviewed and a determination made, Carpenter said.

Pribbernow, who is charged with one open count of murder and three counts of assault with intent to commit murder, is accused of stabbing his 17-year-old adoptive brother, Justin, at the family's home in rural Coleman Aug. 4.

Multiple stabbings had been reported in the early morning hours at the Pribbernow home at 5180 McNally Road in Geneva Township.

Pribbernow, who is being charged as an adult, faces life in prison if convicted.

His mother, Jessica Pribbernow and her husband, Joshua Saylor, own the home on McNally Road near Lewis Road where the rampage happened.

The household was a mix of Jessica Pribbernow's biological and adopted children.

Neighbors described Jessica Pribbernow as a good mother who wants to make life better for her children.

She had adopted the children of an extremely troubled family in order to give them a better life, a neighbor said.

Court documents indicate that was a tough assignment.

The parental rights of that family, all boys, were terminated by Arenac County in 2003 for a variety of reasons.

Three other family members were injured when Pribbernow allegedly attacked them with a knife.

Justin Pribbernow died at the home, where the family moved from Sanford about two years before the incident.

Saylor, 32, and two of the couples' children, Kody, 13, and Kevin, 15, were also injured.

Carpenter opted to charge Steven Pribbernow as an adult because of the seriousness of the offense and other aggravating factors.