MENOMINEE, MI (WTAQ) – Menominee County officials say no charges against a South Dakota man accused of killing and dumping his girlfriend’s body in a U.P. river will be filed in Michigan.
Investigators believe Stephen Falkenberg killed Tamara LaFromboise in South Dakota and then brought her body to Michigan and disposed of it.
“He is from Menominee originally, I believe he graduated from High School here. But I’m not sure how long he’s living in South Dakota, but he does have family here,” said Menominee County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery Rogg.
Menominee County Sheriff Kenny Marks says the remains were found Saturday.
“That morning, two boys were walking their dog and looked over the side of the bridge and saw a body in the Little River.”
Officials say the body was found without hands, feet, and head.
Rogg says charges are being filed in South Dakota as the murder investigation will take place there.
“If at some point, charges are warranted here, then those will be evaluated and pursued.
Once the body was found, investigators made the connection to a missing woman report from South Dakota.
“That missing person’s report was significant,” Marks said. “Tattoos on the body helped us identify her.”
“There been some frankly, gory details that have been released in this case and I think it’s important to remember there is a human aspect to this case too,” Rogg said. “And that is Ms. LaFromboise was the daughter of a woman, her mother who still lives in New Mexico. She was the mother of two young adult children. If you’re a praying person, I would urge you to consider keeping their family in mind in the next difficult days, weeks and months to come.”
The autopsy has been completed but the results are still pending.
