What Happened To Grafton Man Charged With Strangling Wife?

GRAFTON, MA—In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 13, 2016, a five-year-old girl was spotted walking in her pajamas on busy Route 140 in Grafton. The strange scene led police to the site of what appeared to be the scene of a domestic homicide.

Michael Sugarman was ultimately charged with the murder of his wife Kelly, allegedly strangling her and stabbing himself in the neck, still clutching the knife when authorities got there in their Grafton home at 55 Worcester St.

Since the charges, little has been reported on the case, with Grafton residents and Patch readers wondering what became of it, and the man accused.

According to the district attorney's office, Michael Sugarman still stands accused of murder, and is scheduled to appear in Worcester Superior Court next on June 20 for a competency hearing.

The Grafton News reported in August of 2017 that Sugarman's psychiatric records had been released, and that the 43-year-old had been released from a mental hospital roughly a week before he allegedly killed his wife. He told doctors at Bridgewater State Hospital that he didn't remember strangling his wife but had been overwhelmed and couldn't sleep.

Sugarman was held without bail after pleading not guilty on July 15, 2016, on charged of first-degree murder.

Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault