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Woman Heading to Trial for Alleged Role in State Police Trooper’s Death

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MANISTEE, Mich. — The wife of the man accused of shooting and killing Trooper Paul Butterfield on Sept. 9 made an appearance in court Tuesday for her preliminary hearing.

Sarah Knysz, 20, appeared in Manistee County court, where she is charged with stealing a vehicle.  She said little to nothing and only shed a single tear when the judge found there was enough evidence to send her trial.

Detective Sgt. Mark Miller with the Michigan State Police testified that when he interviewed Saturday after the two were arrested, she told him they drove to Eric’s mother’s house.

Following that, police say Eric stole a car that the couple had test driven earlier in the day. Miller says Sarah waited in the car down the road while Eric took off with the car, the couple then loaded their belongings and took off.

While the defense argued that Sarah had no control over the situation, Miller testified that a phone recovered in the car had its battery and SIM card taken out.

Miller says the SIM card was given to him by Sarah during that interview, and that she was hiding it her bra.

Sarah also faces charges in Mason County for stealing a vehicle and being an accessory after the fact to murder. Eric will head to trial in February after being charged with killing Trooper Butterfield.