Teen's trial set for February

By SUSAN FIELD

A rural Coleman teen is scheduled to be tried on murder and other charges in February.

Steven Pribbernow, 15, is accused of killing his 17-year-old brother and injuring three other family members Aug. 4 at his family's home in Geneva Township.

Pribbernow is charged in Midland County Circuit Court with one open count of murder and three counts of assault with intent to murder.

All of the charges are punishable by life in prison.

Midland County Prosecutor Michael Carpenter charged Pribbernow as an adult because of the seriousness of the offense and other aggravating factors.

Pribbernow allegedly killed his adoptive brother, Justin at the home shared by his mother, Jessica Pribbernow, her husband, Joshua Saylor, and their mix of adopted and biological children.

He is also accused of stabbing Saylor, and two of the couple's children, Kody, 13, and Kevin, 15, at their home at 5180 McNally Road near Lewis Road.

A final pre-trial conference in Judge Jonathan E. Lauderbach's Midland courtroom is set for Jan. 11 at 1:15 p.m., according to court records.

His trial, slated for six days, is scheduled to begin Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.

Carpenter charged Pribbernow the day after the murder.

He is being held at the Midland County Jail without bond.

After the murder, neighbors described Jessica Pribbernow as a good mother who wants to make a better life for her children.

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