Man’s wife is fatally crushed by totem pole, husband sentenced

RAY, Minn. (AP) – 51-year-old Minnesotan Carl Muggli is being sentenced to 15 years in prison after his wife, Linda,  was pinned beneath a totem pole the two were carving at their homestead in Ray, Minn.  Carl pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder. Carl was facing a possible life sentence if he were to be convicted of first-degree murder.

Carl admitted he was arguing with his wife about his Internet romance moments  prior to the accident. Prosecutors say Carl did nothing to help his dying wife, who was pinned beneath the 700 pound totem pole.

Muggli declined saying anything before he was sentenced in Koochiching County District Court Monday.