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Jury finds Ihander guilty in murder trial

Jolene Eichhorn’s family and friends console each other following Gregory Ihander being declared guilty of second-degree murder in Menominee County Circuit Court Thursday. Ihander will be sentenced in circuit court on April 13. (Daily Press photo by Jenny Lancour)

By Jenny Lancour

Escanaba Daily Press

MENOMINEE — Tension was high in Menominee County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon when the jury returned to court declaring Gregory Scott Ihander guilty of second-degree murder in the 2015 death of Jolene Eichhorn, 43, of Carney.

After deliberating a total of eight hours Wednesday and Thursday, the seven-woman, five-man jury overseeing the nine-day trial unanimously convicted Ihander, 49, of slaying his former girlfriend and leaving her body in her abandoned car in Menominee Township on Sept. 8 or 9, 2015.

After finding Eichhorn’s body, police quickly developed Ihander as a suspect and arrested him after a bag of bloody clothing, towels and other items were found in his bath tub. DNA evidence also linked Ihander to the homicide of Eichhorn, who was wearing an engagement ring from him when she was stabbed in her neck with a knife and bled to death.

Following court delays since his arrest 17 months ago, Ihander’s trial began last week with a full day of jury selection. Three dozen witnesses testified for seven days, while more than 100 pieces of evidence were presented for jurors prior to beginning deliberation. After three hours in the jury room Wednesday, the group was excused for the day.

Deliberation resumed Thursday morning while family, friends, attorneys, courtroom staff, and media waited in court for another five hours before it was announced the jury had reached a conclusion.

When the guilty verdict was read, a woman on the Eichhorn side of the court faintly gasped despite Judge Mary Barglind’s prior request to those in the courtroom not to react outwardly.

Ihander was standing between his two attorneys and showed no sign of emotion when he was declared guilty of the life felony. He will be sentenced in circuit court on April 13.

Besides deciding on whether Ihander was guilty or not guilty of second-degree homicide, the jury also had the option to convict the defendant of first-degree murder, which is a premeditated felony punishable by life in prison without parole.

Following Thursday’s verdict, Judge Barglind expressed her gratitude for the jury for performing a very important duty.

“We’ve thrown at you legal terms, medical terms, forensic science terms, everything from the kitchen sink,” she said, thanking them for their attention to the details and the law.

“The attorneys put their heart, mind and souls into this case. It’s taken over their lives. I’m proud of both of them,” Barglind added as her voice choked with emotion.

The judge also thanked the court staff, the sheriff’s department, and the county clerk and staff members for keeping everything in order in regards to providing security and handling the great amount of witnesses and exhibits in a case that was beyond any she has experienced.

After Ihander was escorted out of the courtroom, many of Eichhorn’s family and friends hugged each other with smiles as well as tears as they supported one another in the bitter victory.

Afterwards, the prosecuting and defense attorneys answered questions from the media with both sides expressing appreciation for the jurors.

“It was a weighty decision,” commented Ihander’s attorney Karen Groenhout when interviewed by the Daily Press. She also appreciated family members for being respectful during the trial process.

Groenhout said she hoped she had defended her client during the trial as he deserved to be defended. She added she will discuss with him some issues which may be reserved for appeal.

Prosecutor William Merkel praised jurors for deciding such a difficult case with a lot of exhibits, saying the jury held Ihander accountable for his actions.

“I’m satisfied with the verdict obviously,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for the jury for their attention… and their time spent deliberating.”

The lead investigator in the case, Det. Sgt. Jean Belanger of the Michigan State Police Post in Gladstone, also expressed thanks to the jurors for their service.

“It’s obvious they carefully deliberated all the facts and the evidence. I’m happy for Jolene Eichhorn and her family. Justice was served,” the detective said.

The case, which dates back to the fall of 2015, consumed a lot of attention on the part of law enforcement, she said, adding it’s one of the toughest cases she’s worked on in her career including the past 18 years as a detective.

“Law enforcement worked together on this from day one to bring closure to the victim and her family,” said Belanger, noting, “It affects everybody. It has an impact on both families that have suffered. I’m sure the jurors will remember this for the rest of their lives.”

According to witness testimony, evidence, and forensic analysis presented during the trial, the following events occurred:

Eichhorn and her boyfriend of 14 years broke up during the summer of 2015. While dating Ihander in August, he gave her an engagement ring. When Eichhorn hadn’t returned his calls, he found out where she lived and went to her house and saw her former boyfriend there.

Eichhorn later brought her car to be fixed at Ihander’s house in Menominee Township where he stabbed her with a hunting knife. Her body was located in the trunk of her car found abandoned in the Cedar River Harbor Marina on the morning of Sept. 9, 2015.

Police investigated the car and Ihander’s house, collecting a large amount of evidence including Eichhorn’s blood DNA found in his kitchen and on the murder weapon — a knife found under his mobile home.

Belanger testified, while detectives were searching Ihander’s home, he took her to the side and told her, “You’re going to find something in there and I want to tell you about it. I want to tell you everything.”

During an interview with the Daily Press following Thursday’s trial, Belanger said there was more to the case than what the jury heard during the trial. She could not comment further because of potential appeals.

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