Preliminary set for Holton man charged with wife's murder
A Holton man facing second-degree murder charges stemming from the October death of his wife will face a preliminary hearing in April, it was reported in Jackson County District Court.
The hearing for George E. Fleshman Jr., 66, arrested March 8 at his home in connection with the death of his wife, Elizabeth J. Fleshman, 62, will be held Thursday, April 14 in district court. Fleshman remains at the Jackson County Detention Center on $200,000 bond.
During a status hearing held Wednesday, defense attorney J. Richard Lake of Holton said he had received some information pertinent to the case against Fleshman but would need additional time to review it. District Court Judge Norbert Marek then set the April 14 date for the preliminary hearing.
The case stems from Elizabeth Fleshman’s death on Oct. 21, 2015, after Fleshman told 911 dispatchers he had found her unresponsive at their home. She was taken to Holton Community Hospital, then to St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, where she later died.
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse said his office opened an investigation into Elizabeth Fleshman’s death due to what it considered suspicious circumstances. An autopsy report concluded that she may have died due to a trauma to her spleen, prompting the sheriff’s office to arrest Fleshman, it was reported.
Fleshman had also been charged in district court with assault and disorderly conduct in connection with a June 2015 incident reportedly involving his wife, according to district court documents. He had applied for diversion in the case, which was dismissed in November due to the “complaining witness” being deceased, it was reported.
