Stephen Falkenberg made his initial court appearance Thursday in Yankton County Circuit Court. Magistrate Judge Kasey Sorensen read Falkenberg the charges of second-degree murder, which he said he understood. He is charged with killing 46-year-old Tamara LaFramboise (la-frahm-boy) on or about March first. Her dismembered body was found in a Menominee Michigan County stream last Saturday. Falkenberg was arrested in Sioux Falls on Monday.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Doug Barnett. He said the case is still under investigation. Falkenberg, 44, is represented by Clint Sargent of Sioux Falls, who had no comment after the court appearance.
The court set a preliminary hearing for April second, at which time Falkenberg may enter a plea. He is being held in the Yankton County Jail on a one-million-dollar bond.