Suburban Twin Cities man charged with gunning down estranged wife - sentenced to 32 years

(Original Post 7-31-08)

Michael Iheme, 50, was charged with 1st degree murder Friday, July 25 for the shooting death of his wife, 28 year old Anthonia Thursday, July 24. The shooting happened as she left her workplace, the Sholom Home West. 2 witnesses reported a man, apparently Iheme, standing near his wife’s car. According to the subsequent 911 call, Iheme said “"I have killed the woman that messed my life up.... a woman that had destroyed me."

Hennepin County court records show that she had an active harassment restraining order against Iheme. The supporting affidavit suggests a history of domestic abuse, including threats by Iheme to kill his wife. The complaint said police in Brooklyn Park, where the couple lived most recently, had a number of domestic assault calls.

One of Anthonia Iheme's co-workers saw her get into her car about 2:35 p.m. Thursday and then saw Iheme get out of his car and shoot at Anthonia's car, which lurched forward, clipped a van, jumped a curb and rolled down a hill into a fence. Iheme followed the car down the hill and fired more shots, the complaint said.

Iheme was a stay at home father who took care of the kids while the wife worked, and the couple lived in Brooklyn Center, MN. Iheme moved out a few weeks after Anthonia moved out and filed a restraining order against her husband. The neighbor, who is afraid of retaliation from the suspect’s friends, said that when she locked herself out, Iheme, coming out in his underwear, complained about the noise when the locksmith showed up. He glared at the neighbor when she asked him to put on some clothes

Iheme is currently being held on $1 million bond at the Hennepin County Jail.

(Update 4-16-09) Iheme was sentenced to 32 years, the maximum for 2nd degree murder after delivering a 40 minute statement in Hennepin County District Judge Mel Dickstein's courtroom April 9. Iheme killed his wife after finding out the baby she gave birth to was another man's. The defense said that Iheme killed his wife in a fit of passion, but Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Deborah Russell stated Iheme knew about the "affair," therefore making the murder 1st instead of 2nd degree. Iheme was convicted last month of 2nd degree murder.

Iheme said he knows God has forgiven him and quoted several Bible verses that warn against responding to evil with evil. "I saw everything she did to me as rubbish," he said. "This marriage was done with good intention. It ended unfortunately. I wish I had the Holy Spirit like I have now. I would have overcome."

However, Judge Dickstein cut off Iheme to say that he really didn't care about the life of his wife or kids, and that because "your conduct was horrific by any measure...you should lose your freedom for as long as the law permits."