Updated: Love Triangle Motive in Totem Pole Death
Posted at: 06/07/2011 11:46 AM
| Updated at: 06/08/2011 4:52 PM
By: Renee Passal
A well-known totem pole carver from Koochiching County has been arrested and charged, for allegedly killing his wife last November.
Following a six month investigation, 49-year-old Carl Chester Muggli is facing a second degree murder charge, for allegedly killing his wife on their property in Ray, Minnesota.
According to the criminal complaint, Muggli's 61-year-old wife, Linda, died after a totem pole fell onto her chest and shoulder. Muggli said it was an accident, but Jeff Naglosky, attorney for Koochiching County, believes otherwise.
"Due to the diligent work of the Koochiching Sheriff's Department, more information was uncovered that led us to believe that Mr. Muggli was in fact the perpetrator of this crime," Naglosky told Eyewitness News.
The complaint said that Muggli was fighting with his wife on the day of her death, about a divorce. They had filed any divorce paperwork, according to court records. The complaint also outlined that Muggli was in communication with a woman from Alabama, and had a romantic relationship with her.
Authorities were alerted to the alleged affair through a concerned citizen.
The Facebook messages indicate that Muggli was trying to buy a house in Texas. He was arrested in Texas on Tuesday.
Authorities tried to recreate the situation that Muggli told them happened surrounding Linda's death. But they tried, and could not do it the way he said it happened. He told them the pole fell on her. The complaint said he told different versions to different people.
The Mugglis carved totem poles. Their artwork is well known. Their clients included big name businesses like Six Flags Theme Parks and Warner Bros. International Television.
After Linda's death, the business's website carried a message that said she died doing what she loved, and that Muggli would continue the work.
Muggli is currently being held in a local jail in Texas, but Naglosky said he has waived extradition and will be returning to Minnesota.
Muggli is expected to make his initial court appearance later this week.
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