TRANSCRIPT RELEASED FOR DEKLIENE ARREST WARRANT

Transcript released for DeKleine arrest warrant
Posted by 58th Judicial District Court
The Grand Rapids Press
January 14, 2008 15:37PM
Categories: Breaking News, DeKleine case
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/01/transcript_released_for_deklei.html

The following is a transcript of Lt. Mark Bennett, of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, seeking an arrest warrant on Saturday for Kenneth DeKleine.

MAGISTRATE GLENN R. YOAS: It's January 12, 2008. A request for a felony warrant, Defendant Kenneth Dekleine, D-e-k-l-e-i-n-e, for open murder. Who's going to sign the complaint?

LIEUTENANT MARK BENNETT: I will, your honor.

THE MAGISTRATE: Okay. Raise your right hand. Do you swear the information in this complaint is the truth to the best of your knowledge?

LIEUTENANT BENNETT: I do. Well, your honor, on January 11, 2008, the sheriff's office was called to assist the Holland City Police Department at 229 Calvin Street, in Holland City on a death investigation, and the victim of that death was Lori, L-o-r-i, Dekleine. It was noted that her husband is an employee of the City of Holland Police Department. They requested our assistance in that matter.

Through the course of the death investigation, the victim was found in the basement of her home on Calvin with a nylon strap around her neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Subsequent medical examination confirmed that the death was that of a homicide, and the manner of death was strangulation, presumed by the apparatus around her neck.

Subsequently, several articles of evidence were located at the scene on Calvin Street. Several individuals were interviewed, and Kenneth Dekleine, the defendant in this case, was interviewed on multiple occasions.

The third occasion he was interviewed on, yesterday, the evening of the 11th. A substantial interview was done at that time, and under Miranda, Kenneth Dekleine confessed that he caused the injuries that resulted in the death of Mrs. Dekleine.

Ken had gained access to the home, somewhat prior to the homicide, a few hours prior to the homicide, and through that access, or after that access he had waited for Mrs. Dekleine to become alone in the residence after the children left; had contact with Mrs. Dekleine in the kitchen of the home on Calvin, and used a strap to affix the strap around her neck and chocked her to the point that she fell to the floor.

While on the floor, he confirmed, by his own admission, that Mrs. Dekleine had died. He then placed Mrs. Dekleine in the basement of the home, attempted, and at least initially attempted to make the appearance of a suicide, and then left the residence.

The investigators found evidence at the scene that should, through subsequent investigation, confirm the presence of blood. That blood, we believe, is going to come back as being Kenneth Dekleine's blood, as he was injured in the altercation with Mrs. Dekleine. He claims that he was bitten on his lip by the victim, prior to the homicide, and this was substantiated by six sutures on Mr. Dekleine's lip that was noted during the investigation and subsequent interview of Mr. Dekleine.

Mr. Dekleine was lodged here at the Ottawa County Jail, subsequent to his interview and confession to the homicide.

THE MAGISTRATE: He confessed?

LIEUTENANT BENNETT: Yes, sir.

THE MAGISTRATE: Okay. Probable cause has been established, and a warrant will issue. Sign the complaint. No bond will be set at this time. It will be delayed until Monday when he is arraigned.