Mark Casterman
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — A 60-year-old Grand Rapids man pleaded “no contest” Friday, May 2, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court to second-degree murder for running over his wife with a car and killing her in 2023.
Mark Lazon Casterman, who is currently lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $1 million cash/surety bond, is scheduled for sentencing June 17 at 2:20 p.m. In light of his plea, his case will no longer go to trial, which was scheduled for May 19-23.
Submitted photo/Casterman-Medacco
An argument during a ride home from the Little River Casino led to the death of 45-year-old Melissa Casterman-Medacco, who was run over by a car driven by her husband of 16 years on Sept. 15, 2023 on US 31 near Freeman Road in Free Soil Township.
“In establishing a factual basis for the plea, the court took into consideration the
MCP file photo/One of Melissa Casterman-Medacco’s family members wore this t-shirt during a recent court hearing.
testimony established at the preliminary examination held on Dec. 6, 2023,” said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. “Numerous family members of the decedent were present in the courtroom as the plea was accepted by the court. The victim’s family concurred in the sentencing agreement of 15 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. The family is one step closer to closure.”
Casterman was initially charged with homicide – open murder, which is punishable by up to life in prison, along with charges of operating while intoxicated causing death, operating while license suspended causing death and third-offense operating while intoxicated.
Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole previously said Casterman-Medacco was killed instantly and declared dead at the scene.
Former Prosecutor Lauren Kreinbrink said that “the fight, the anger and the drinking led to the crash” during the Dec. 6, 2023 preliminary examination in Mason County’s 79th District Court.
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