Sparta ax murder suspect appears in court

A Sparta man allegedly attacked three elderly victims with an ax, killing one, after being thrown out of a house where he was living. 

Thomas Aspseter is now facing five felony charges, including murder and attempted murder, for the attack that occurred earlier this month at a house west of Sparta. 

Aspseter reportedly was kicked out of the house by his grandmother and her husband, shortly before he killed the husband, 87-year-old Bernard Waite. 

Michael Waite and Margaret Waite were injured in the incident. Police say the suspect broke into the home before the June 6 attack.

Judge Todd Ziegler has set bond for Aspseter at $1 million, and ordered him to return to court July 2.

Investigators say Aspseter had been living in the house where the attacks took place, but then his grandmother and Bernard Waite kicked him out. On the day of the attack, the three victims came to the house to find that the suspect had broken in.