KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor has announced charges against a suspect in a 2016 murder.
Barbara Bodine, 84, was found with a severe head injury in the 5000 block of Wayne Avenue in Cooper Township on April 24, 2016. She died on June 12 at the hospital from her injuries.
Investigators determined that her injuries were from a domestic assault and a suspect was arrested Wednesday on charges of Open Murder. That suspect's name will be revealed Thursday at their arraignment.
Friends of Bodine say they're one step closer to getting closure.
"She was a beautiful person," said Patricia Geisenheimer. "She was just so soft spoken and very sweet. She was very nice to everybody all the time and was just wonderful."
Geisenheimer has been friends with Bodine for 34 years and says Bodine was like a grandmother to her two kids.
"She was always included in everything," said Geisenheimer. "She came to birthday parties, she came to get togethers at the house."
On Wednesday, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest in the case saying the suspect is being charged with open murder. It's a development Patricia says they've waited too long for.
"It kind of sickened us because I never would've expected something like this to happen like that," said Geisenheimer.
The suspect arrested on Wednesday is currently in the county jail and their name will be released on Thursday after their arraignment.
