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Murder case hearing delayed

Hancock Twp. grandfather found dead in December

HOUGHTON — A review hearing in the case of a Wisconsin man charged with fatally shooting his grandfather in his Hancock Township home has been postponed until May 3.

Jacob Kempainen, 20, of Hartland, Wisconsin, had a hearing scheduled for Friday in 97th District Court. He is charged with open murder and conspiracy to commit open murder, along with his mother Margaret Kempainen, 50. His grandfather and her father-in-law, Alvin Kempainen, was found dead in his home on Dec. 19 of a gunshot wound to the head.

In police interviews, Margaret Kempainen identified Jacob as the shooter; he also faces an additional felony firearms charge.

Police had been told to check on Alvin’s home by relatives, who’d received word from Kempainen’s son, Alan Kempainen, the night before that Jacob and his wife Margaret might be going to Alvin’s house to seek money.

The Kempainens’ account of their trip incorporated supernatural elements, which police had compared to the M. Night Shyamalan movie “The Visit.” They indicated they believed Alvin to be possessed by spirits of people who died on the property.

After their initial arraignments, Jacob and Margaret were both referred for evaluation to determine their competency to stand trial.

Margaret Kempainen’s review hearing is scheduled for March 22.

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