Grafton Man Charged With Murdering Wife Held Without Bail

WESTBOROUGH (CBS) -- A Grafton man charged with the murder of his wife last week will undergo a mental evaluation.

Michael Sugarman, 42, was ordered held without bail Thursday at his arraignment on the upgraded charge in Westborough District Court.

The judge sent him to Bridgewater State Hospital after an initial mental competency evaluation at the courthouse.

Police say Sugarman beat and strangled his wife then tried to kill himself with a knife before police showed up at his home April 13.

The couple's 5-year-old daughter was found wandering in the street in her pajamas after the attack.

Grafton Police found Kelly Sugarman, the girl's 36-year-old mother, dead on the floor in the couple's bedroom.

Prosecutors said Thursday the child witnessed the incident. According to police, she had told responding officers "Mommy is sleeping, mommy is sick."

Michael Sugarman was in the kitchen with a knife sticking out of his neck, according to investigators.

"He is really sick, he is really ill," Sugarman's attorney Janice Bassill told WBZ Newsradio 1030 Thursday.

"It's my understanding that the jail is going to be filing a petition that he needs to be in a hospital. I don't believe he's competent to stand trial, and my hope is that he can get some help at a state hospital and hopefully some medication, but he's quite ill."

Prosecutors said the couple had been facing financial difficulties which may have been the motive for the killing.

Sugarman allegedly told police he was off his medications when the incident occurred.

Sugarman was initially charged with assault and battery after his arrest last week. He was ordered held without bail.