UPDATE: Murder suspect arraigned
UPDATE — Monday, July 25, 2016 12:40 p.m. EDT — The identities of the suspect and the victim in this weekend’s shooting in Laurium have been released.
32-year-old Christian Paul Kitti was arraigned in 97th District Court on charges of Homicide-Open Murder, punishable by Life in prison, and a felony firearms charge.
The charges are in relation to the death of 44-year-old Kimberly Renee Bess of Calumet, whom Laurium police say was found dead from an apparent gun shot at a residence on the 100 block of Florida Street in Laurium Saturday night.
Kitti and Bess are said to be related, but Prosecution Attorney Michael Makinen was not able to specify how they are related. Makinen said Bess reportedly went to the Florida Street residence to mow the lawn and police believe she was shot sometime around 6:00pm.
Laurium police were called out to the house later that evening and found the victim’s body deceased in the side yard of the residence. Kitti was located inside the house and was taken into custody.
He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing on August 1st and a preliminary exam on August 8th. The court denied bond and Kitti remains lodged in the Houghton County Jail.
UPDATE — Monday, July 25, 2016 12:15 p.m. EDT — Police have confirmed the identity of the woman as Kimberly Renee Bess, 44, of Calumet. Her alleged murderer was also confirmed as her brother, Christian Paul Kitti, 32, of Grand Rapids.
Kitti was charged with one count of open murder and another count of weapons felony firearm. He will be arraigned in Houghton County District Court later today.
[UPDATE — Monday, July 25, 2016 6:25 a.m. EDT]
A source tells ABC 10 that the deceased woman was identified as Kim Bess. Her brother, Christian Kitti, was arrested after allegedly confessing to her murder.
The investigation remains active.
We will keep you updated as new information is released on this story.
LAURIUM — One woman is dead and one man is in custody after an incident Saturday night in the Village of Laurium.
Just after 11:45 p.m., officers with the Laurium Police Department were dispatched to the 100 block of Florida Street for a medical assist.
When police arrived, they found a 44-year-old woman dead in the side yard of the residence. According to authorities, it appeared the woman had been shot.
A 32-year-old man inside the residence was taken into custody. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Troopers with the Michigan State Police – Calumet Post, MSP Wakefield Post, Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Linden Police Department, the Houghton County Medical Examiners Office and the MSP Grayling Crime Lab all assisted at the scene.