Wife of alleged trooper shooter to appear in court today

Sarah Knysz

LUDINGTON — Sarah Knysz of Luther, the wife of the man accused of murdering Trooper Paul Butterfield, is scheduled to appear in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court today for a final conference at 3:30 p.m.

The pregnant 20-year-old has been charged with accessory to murder, after the fact and unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle in connection to the Sept. 9 fatal shooting of Trooper Butterfield. Last week, she appeared in Manistee County’s 85th District Court and was bound over to circuit court on felony charges. There, she is charged with unlawfully driving away a vehicle in connection to the couple’s apprehension at the Dublin General Store in northeastern Manistee County.

On the evening of Sept. 9, Trooper Paul Butterfield was shot in the back of the head during a routine traffic stop on North Custer Road in Free Soil Township. Eric and Sarah Knysz were apprehended several hours later following a gunfight near the Dublin General Store.

Sarah and Eric Knysz

Eric John Knysz, 19, her husband, has been charged in Mason County with murder of a police officer, felony firearms, carrying a concealed weapon, auto theft and being a second time offender. In Manistee he is being charged with receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon.

The couple is being lodged in the Mason County jail.