Wirgau exam delayed for review of new evidence
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ALPENA -- A preliminary examination in the unlawful imprisonment case against Alpena Township's Joshua Wirgau will wait two more weeks after Wirgau's attorney on Monday asked for more time to review new information.
Defense attorney Rick Steiger on Monday told the 88th District Court that the Alpena County Prosecutor's Office had just furnished him with a digital copy of a previously undisclosed interview of the key witness in the case against Wirgau.
Judge Lora Green gave Steiger two weeks to review the new information, agreeing to delay Monday's preliminary exam, at which a judge decides if prosecutors have enough evidence to send a case to trial.
Wirgau's attorney already had the prelim pushed back last month so he could discuss new information with his client.
Wirgau, 34, faces charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault with a weapon after a tow truck driver, Greg Schuelke, accused Wirgau and two other people of hijacking Schuelke's truck at gunpoint on Sept. 21.
In a separate investigation, police have named Wirgau a person of interest in the death of Brynn Bills, an Alpena teenager whose body police found buried in Wirgau's backyard on Sept. 28.
Police on Oct. 15 found the body of Abby Hill, 31, whom police said participated in the alleged hijacking with Wirgau and another man, Brad Srebnik.
Judge Ed Black last week bound Srebnik over to circuit court to face trial for his alleged role in the hijacking.
Police have not publicly named any suspects in the women's deaths.
Steiger told The News he has not received information about other potential charges against Wirgau.
Both Wirgau and Srebnik remain held in local county jails on $500,000 bonds.