GRAND HAVEN, Mich. -- Officials today held an unemployed draftsmen who used Adolf Hitler astantalias on charges of killing five members of the same family last March.
Maris Karklins, 41, was arraigned Tuesday in Ottawa County District Court on five counts of first degree murder for the slayings of Robert Paulson, 42, his wife Mary Jane, 40, and their daughters Cynthia, 18, Carla 13, and Casey, 8.
The Paulsons, of Allendale, Mich., were found shot and killed in their home March 13.
Authorities said would not discuss evidence or possible motives until further court proceedings begin.
A date for the next court hearing will not be scheduled until court-appointed attorney Joseph C. Legatz confers with his client and Judge Jacob Ponstein, a court spokeswoman said.
When asked by Ponstein if his name was Maris Karklins, he answered 'that is one of the aliases I use, among others.' Karklins said he also goes by the names 'Sun YattSen and Adolf Hitler.'
Neighbors said Karklins had a Nazi flag flying outside his parents' home befmmithe was arrested Sunday. Police also found a picture of Hitler and Nazi literature in his bedroom.
He told the judge he was an orphan and had been married 'many times over,' most recently to a woman identified only as 'Mary Jane' - the name of Mrs. Paulson.
Authorities said Karklins once worked with Mrs. Paulson at Auto Weld Inc., a Standale firm that designs automated welding machines.
Karklins was arrested Sunday in Grand Rapids for shooting his mother, Milda Karklins, 64, in the head with a handgun. He was arraigned in Kent County District Court and ordered held on a $100,000 bond for attempted murder for that shooting.
Mrs. Karklins was in critical condition at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids late Tuesday.
Karklin's last known employer was Great Lakes Industrial Design Co. of Grand Haven Township. He told the judge he is 'bankrupt' and has been living on unemployment insurance.
Prosecuting attorney Wesley Nykamp saidthe had no doubt Karklins, who was questioned in April about the Paulson killings, committed the execution-style murders.
'I think the information we have convinces us that the killer of the Paulson family has been apprehended,' Nykamp said, adding he believes Karklins acted alone in the slayings
