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BEULAH — BY ALEX PIAZZA
apiazza@record-eagle.com
and ART BUKOWSKI
abukowski@record-eagle.com
Joni Holbrook pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, a state police sergeant.
Holbrook's attorneys reached a last-minute plea deal with Benzie County prosecutors, a decision agreed upon a day before her murder trial was set to begin.
"It came out of left field," said Benzie Sheriff Rory Heckman. "We never saw it coming."
Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer has yet to schedule a sentencing date, Heckman said.
Benzie County authorities last year charged Holbrook, 48, with an open count of murder in the Aug. 10 shooting death of her husband, state police Sgt. Melvin P. Holbrook, who was stationed at the Traverse City post.
Authorities contend she shot her husband with his service weapon as he slept in their Benzie County home, then called 911 and reported the incident.
