CASCO TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Michigan man who was having an affair with a former coworker tried to kill his wife with a shotgun in the middle of the night but had to make it look like a home invasion when his plan failed, police said.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. March 29 at a home in the 4000 block of Palms Road in Casco Township, according to authorities.
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Officials said they were called to the home by Gregory Allen Ringel, 57, of Casco Township.
Fake home invasion story
Police said Ringel told them a person armed with a shotgun had entered the home through the garage, walked through the kitchen and knocked over a steel tumbler. The noise woke up Ringel’s wife, and she got out of bed to check what had happened, according to authorities.
Ringel’s story was that his wife had been met at the doorway with a shotgun barrel as the armed person was entering her room, officials said.
The man shot at her, but missed, and she shut the door on the gun barrel, keeping the gunman from entering, Ringel allegedly told police.
Ringel said he had been sleeping in another room when he woke up and grabbed his handgun from the nightstand, according to police. He told them that he saw a shadow and shot in the direction of the fleeing intruder before going to check on his wife, authorities said.
When he went out to the garage to look for the intruder, he called police, Ringel told them.
Investigation reveals inconsistencies in story
St. Clair County deputies said they were in the area and responded quickly, but they didn’t see any suspicious vehicles leaving the area.
Investigators confirmed a shotgun was fired in the home, as was Ringel’s handgun. They said inconsistencies and unexplained facts began to pop up in his story, though.
Police said they learned that Ringel was having an affair with an ex-coworker from out of state. During a follow-up interview, Ringel admitted that he had made up the home invasion after using a single-shot 12 gauge to try to enter the bedroom and shoot his wife, according to authorities.
His wife woke up when she heard the noise Ringel made while walking through the kitchen, and she met him at the bedroom door, officials said. He shot at her as she opened the door, according to police.
Authorities said the woman couldn’t see who was shooting at her, and after firing the shotgun, Ringel walked off to hide that weapon. He grabbed the handgun and fired a shot to try to cover up what had happened, police said.
Charges
Ringel was arrested and charged with assault with intent to murder, firearm discharge in a building, false report of a felony and two felony firearm violations.
He was arraigned and is being held at the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center on $750,000 bond, 10% cash/surety.
