KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man accused of killing his ex-wife and his former divorce attorney has been sentenced to life in prison.
58-year-old Michael Petersen, of rural Glenvil, was sentenced Wednesday in Buffalo County District Court after pleading no contest last month to first-degree murder in the Nov. 13 shooting death of Nancy Petersen outside her home. In exchange for his plea, a weapons count in the shooting death of his ex-wife was dropped.
Petersen also faces first-degree murder and a weapons charge in Hall County District Court for the Nov. 13 death of 52-year-old attorney Todd Elsbernd. Elsbernd was shot with a rifle outside his Grand Island law office.
Petersen has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from Elsbernd’s death. That case is pending.