Murder Trial Called Off as Roersma Pleads Guilty

GRAND HAVEN, MI (WHTC) – A murder trial that was supposed to begin tomorrow in Ottawa County Circuit Court will now not be held after Michael Roersma entered a guilty plea to a second-degree count. The 50-year-old Coopersville man admitted bludgeoning and strangulating his 72-year-old mother Sharon 13 months ago and then dumping her body into the Grand River near Eastmanville. Prosecutors were about ready to argue during the trial that money was a possible motive behind the murder. Michael Roersma will now face between 20 and 40 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Ed Post on November 16^th.