URGENT UPDATE: A woman from Northern Michigan has been charged with murder after her husband was fatally shot in their home on Monday night. Police responded to a shooting at the residence of James and Melissa C. Ragen in AuSable Township shortly before 11 p.m., where they found 31-year-old James Ragen suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency personnel pronounced James dead at 11:13 p.m., triggering an immediate investigation. According to Iosco County Prosecutor James A. Bacarella, Melissa, aged 32, admitted to grabbing a .357-caliber revolver during an argument and shooting her husband. Authorities quickly arrested her following the incident.
Melissa Ragen was arraigned the next day in Iosco County District Court on charges of open murder and felony firearm. The charge of open murder includes both first-degree and second-degree murder, with potential life sentences. A conviction for first-degree murder would mean no possibility of parole.
She is currently being held without bond and is scheduled for a preliminary examination on October 28, 2023, at 3 p.m. This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising concerns about domestic disputes escalating to violence.
Authorities urge anyone affected by domestic violence to seek help and resources available in their area. As this case unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, and the community is left grappling with the aftermath of this devastating event.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as it continues to unfold.
