Suspect's arraignment set for June 13

A Truckee contractor charged with the murder of his wife will be arraigned Tuesday, June 13, at 1:30 p.m. at the Nevada County Superior Court House in Truckee.

Ronald D. Blamey, 63, allegedly killed his wife, Michiel, on March 27, according to Deputy District Attorney Fred Holmes. Michiel, a 52-year-old special agent with the California Department of Justice, was reported missing after she failed to return to work at her Sacramento office on the morning of March 27.

During a May 31 preliminary hearing, Judge C. Anders Holmer determined that there was enough evidence connecting Blamey to his wife's murder to have him stand trial.

Following the Tuesday arraignment, dates will be set for a pretrial hearing and trail by jury.

After turning himself in to a Reno attorney on March 29 and telling authorities the general location of Michiel's body, Blamey was arrested for the murder. He was then released on $500,000 bail.

"Blamey did make a statement at the time of his arrest, but the district attorney does not wish to comment on that statement at this time," Holmes said.

The victim's body was found in a field near the town of Sheridan, Calif. An autopsy later revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head, according to Holmes.

Items entered as evidence

A household steam iron and a large rock were entered into evidence as the murder weapons at the May 31 hearing. Both items, found in the back of Blamey's truck, are stained with what is believed to be the victim's blood, said Holmes. Blamey's finger prints were also found on the iron.

"The injuries to the victim's head were consistent with the iron," Holmes said, adding that the victim had what appeared to be defensive wounds about her hands and arms.

Authorities expect DNA tests on the stains to be completed in a week.