11/20/2025

HOUGHTON - A hearing was held yesterday involving one of two suspects in a Houghton County murder two years ago.  Houghton County Circuit Court Judge Brittany Bulleit ruled on two defendant motions raised in Margaret Kempainen’s pre-trial hearing in September. The first motion was for the discovery of privileged information and the other, a motion to suppress statements. Both were denied by Judge Bulleit. Kempainen is charged with two counts of murder for the shooting death of her 87-year-old father-in-law Alvin Kempainen on Dec. 18, 2023. She was identified as a suspect for Alvin’s death alongside two others, her adult son Jacob Kempainen and a then-16-year-old whose name was withheld.  Kempainen’s defense attorney will most likely appeal the judge’s rulings. Margaret’s jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 26.