MENOMINEE COUNTY, MI (WTAQ) – A woman found dead in Menominee County, Michigan, had her head, hands, and feet cut off by her boyfriend, according to a criminal affidavit filed Tuesday.
Court documents show that Stephen Falkenberg allegedly killed Tamara LaFramboise in South Dakota before dumping her remains in a Menominee County stream.
Her remains were found Saturday morning and she was identified by matching tattoos on her body to photos of her, according to court documents.
According to the probable cause document, Falkenberg is charged with second-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million cash bond.
According to the affidavit:
On March 5, LaFromboise was reported missing by her mother to Yankton County, S.D., authorities.
According to her mother, Falkenberg and LaFramboise had a “very turbulent” “on again off again” relationship.
Falkenberg told police on March 6 that he last saw her on March 1, when they argued and she told him to leave.
On March 12, South Dakota police contacted police in Menominee, who had no information.
Yet, after the discovery of remains on March 16, Menominee police again contacted Yankton police and confirmed the identity of the remains.
The missing body parts have not been found and it appears the body was thrown over a bridge and into the creek.
The location is 1.4 miles from a home owned by Falkenberg’s brother, who confirms that since March 1 Stephen had visited them.
Falkenberg talked with his daughter, Marissa Leutjen, who told police he said they argued, he pushed her, she hit her head, and died.
“Marissa said that Falkenberg did not know what to do, so he drove around on county roads and then decided to drive to Michigan. Marissa said that Falkenberg advised he Tamara’s body near their family farm in Michigan. Marissa states (her brother) Sebastian had somehow learned that Tamara’s body was dismembered so she brought up the dismemberment to Falkenberg. Marissa stated she did not know how Sebastian knew Tamara had been dismembered. Marissa advised that he dismembered Tamara because he did not want her to be identified. Marissa advised Falkenberg told her that he got rid of the tools and that he wore gloves when he dismembered Tamara,” the affidavit states.
Falkenberg told police he would not talk to law enforcement without his lawyer present and Menominee County authorities will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday to discuss the case.
