KENTWOOD, MI – A man accused of strangling his pregnant wife, a Kentwood teacher, was ordered held Monday, Jan. 11, on $2 million bond.
Richard Guichelaar, 35, of Kentwood is charged with open murder in the Nov. 16 killing of Amber Guichelaar, 32. She was the mother of two young children.
Guichelaar was arraigned by Kentwood District Judge Amanda Sterkenburg.
Kentwood police arrested the husband on Saturday, Jan. 9, after Kent County prosecutors authorized the charge.
The husband had called 911 around 3:30 a.m. Nov. 16 to report that he had found his wife dead on the couple’s bed. Police considered the death suspicious before a medical examiner, in an autopsy, “discovered injuries consistent with an assault which occurred just prior to her death,” Kentwood police Detective Timothy Dykgraff wrote in a probable-cause affidavit.
He said the medical examiner determined she died of “strangulation/asphyxiation.”
Police determined that Richard Guichelaar was the only one in the home at the time capable of causing such injuries, the affidavit said.
Court records showed that Amber Guichelaar had talked to her sister via Facetime around 8:30 p.m. the previous evening.
“Statements given by Richard do not fully explain the circumstances which resulted in Amber’s death,” the detective wrote.
Attorney Charles “Chip” Chamberlain Jr. said he recognized the seriousness of the allegations but asked that bond be set for his client. He noted that Guichelaar is a life-long resident of West Michigan with a supportive family behind him.
In the virtual hearing aired on YouTube, Guichelaar – who works full-time for a landscaping and snowplowing business - said he was not a flight risk.
“Just know that I will show up for everything I’m supposed to and I’m not a risk, your honor,” he said.
In a statement, Kentwood Public Schools said: “This has been a difficult time for the Kentwood family, the students, staff, and ultimately the involved families. In trauma situations, the district and building leadership continue to provide ongoing support to students and staff as they grieve this loss. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family as they cope with this tragedy.”
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