A Minnesota district judge set $1 million bail for a Florence detention officer accused of killing his wife in 2004 after learning of new forensic evidence Friday.
4 years later, prison guard faces murder charges
Andrew Gordon Lemcke, 34, was charged with first and second degree murder in November after his wife died from a gun shot wound to the head in their shared Appleton, MN home on Sept. 12, 2004. Lemcke has maintained his innocence by saying that his wife’s death was accidental after the two wrestled for control of a loaded firearm.
The Swift County district court judge also allowed a $10,000 cash bail for Lemcke that his family is attempting to collect, according to Lemcke’s attorney Brian Wojtalewicz.
Lemcke, of Florence, turned himself over to the Pinal County Sheriff’s department on Nov. 16 after officials released a warrant for his arrest, Wojtalewicz said. He was an employee with the Florence Correction Center and placed on administrative leave following his arrest.
Officials cited new forensic evidence and expert testimony for the charges brought against Lemcke, but they have not released any information about the evidence itself, he said.
