KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — The long and troubled prosecution of Todd Maneke has finally come to a conclusion with his sentencing yesterday.
Maneke was given to 15 to 20 years in prison for the murder of Alfred Minka, as part of a plea deal.
Maneke had been the prime suspect since the day in 2013 that he and his wife reported that their 88-year-old neighbor appeared to be dead in his home. He had been bludgeoned with a hammer.
Maneke, a drug addict owed Minka money and had reportedly been seen in the victim’s car on the day of the murder.
But there was a lack of physical evidence in the case. Maneke was finally brought to trial last summer, but a mistrial was declared due to juror misconduct.
He was due for retrial this month but instead a plea bargain was reached,allowing him to enter a second degree murder plea, and the sentence was part of that deal.
With credit for the 518 days he has already served, maneke could be a free man again in just over 13 years.
