CRIME BEAT

It Happens

Jennifer Kukla turned to look at her sobbing sister, shrugged and mouthed, "It happens."

That was the 30-year-old Macomb Township woman’s reaction Wednesday to learning she is to spend the rest of her life in prison for slitting the throats of her two young daughters.

The apology came too late from a man who set his pet dog on fire and left it to burn as he walked to a Detroit corner store last month.

Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner struggled to come to grips with the case Wednesday before sentencing John Delmar Fladger to 23 months to 4 years in prison.

"This case shocks the conscience," Groner said. "This case is something I’ve never seen before."

Fladger, 52, who served prison time for an armed robbery conviction, said he was sorry. But he offered no explanation.

"I’m very remorseful about what happened and my soul love for dogs is great," Fladger said.

– Ben Schmitt

The body of a 43-year-old man was found in a wooded area next to a guillotine he built and used to kill himself, police said.

The man, from Melvindale, was discovered Monday by workers from a shopping center near his home.

Allan Park Deputy Police Chief Dale Covert said the roughly 6-foot-tall guillotine was bolted to a tree and included a swing arm. Covert said police also found several store receipts detailing the materials used to assemble the device.

"I can’t even tell you how long it must have taken him to construct," he said. "This man was obviously very determined to end his life."

Pittsfield Township Police said two men attempted to break-in to a convenience store by using a rock until one of them was injured early Sunday morning.

Dispatchers received a call from a witness who saw two men throwing a rock at the window of the Golfside Market at 2642 Golfside Road shortly after 4 a.m., said Lt. Steve Heller.

The windows were protected by a metal fence and did not break. The would-be burglars then tried to smash the padlock securing the fence with the rock, until one of the men was struck in the hands, the witness told police.

Officers found a bloody trail that led to the nearby Greenway Apartments, but could not locate the men, police said.