A grand jury today indicated Carl Muggli on first-degree premeditated and second-degree intentional murder in the death of his wife Linda Muggli.
The grand jury began deliberations at about 2:45 p.m. today and appeared to have reached a decision in about 40 minutes. Carl Muggli was taken into custody by the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office a short time later and appeared in court dressed in an orange jumpsuit to hear the indictment at about 4:45 p.m. today.
District Court Judge Charles LeDuc advised Muggli of his rights and said a conviction on the first-degree murder charge carries a maximum penalty of life without the possibility of release. The second-degree murder charge carries the maximum penalty of no more than 40 years in prison.
LeDuc set bail at $1 million cash and scheduled an arraignment on the charges for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Koochiching County District Court.
Muggli, 50, was arrested June 7, 2011, and charged with intentional second-degree murder in the Nov. 26, 2010 death of his wife, Linda, 61, who died of head trauma. He is accused of using a totem pole the couple was constructing at their Ray-area home in her death, according to court documents.
The full story will be published in Saturday's edition of The Journal.
