KENT COUNTY, Mich. –Scott Hammer, accused of killing 29-year-old Danielle Scholten-Linderman, was charged Thursday with open murder.
Court documents show that Hammer, 51, confessed to investigators that he killed Scholten-Linderman, his live-in girlfriend, Wednesday morning. It all started around 6:30 a.m. when deputies say they got a call about a possible homicide at a residence on Lincoln Lake Road in Spencer Township.
When they arrived they found Linderman dead in the basement. Investigators say Hammer was later arrested after he went to the couple’s farmhouse they were renovating in Sheridan and lit it on fire.
Trent Christensen, a friend of both Hammer and Scholten-Linderman, said he got a text from Hammer around 7:15 a.m. Wednesday morning.
“It said ‘Thanks for being a great friend. Sorry I couldn’t be a better one,’ and I don’t want to say the rest,” he said.
In court Thursday, Hammer said he hadn’t worked in about two years due to some injuries. He says his brother helps take care of him and Scholten-Linderman was working as he was fixing up the house they were going to move into.
Friends say it was a crime of passion, but one they never imagined Hammer could be capable of. Friends say Scholten-Linderman went by Dani and she always had a smile on her face. She also had two children, ages 7 and 9.
Her obituary says she was a devoted mother who coached soccer, was a girl scout leader and a volunteer at Greenville Community Church.
“It’s really sad that it had to happen this way and now were dealing with loss of two people, I’m sure he must have just snapped,” said Christensen.
Hammer was denied bond and is expected back in court on Nov. 6.
