Man accused of murdering wife
Woman allegedly struck in back of head with axe
HADLEY, N.Y. >> Michael C. Norton, 58, was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder for the alleged axe-slaying of his wife, Sherry, last Wednesday at their 7 3rd Ave. home.
Norton was charged immediately after being released from Saratoga Hospital, where he was under police custody, while in a doctor’s care for an undisclosed illness.
He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Hadley Town Court, where he pled not guilty and was sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail.
“I love my wife,” Norton said while being escorted into court. “I did not mean it.”
An autopsy revealed that Sherry Norton died of “blunt force trauma,” from allegedly being struck in the back of the head
with an axe. Her body was found in the home.
Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo declined comment about whether she was struck once or multiple times. Deputies responded when neighbors called 911 at about 12:51 a.m. last Wednesday, reporting a disturbance.
The couple apparently had problems before, as Michael Norton was under a refrain from order of protection, which allowed him to be at the residence, but directed him not to do anything that might trigger an order of protection.
“I think everybody knew there were issues,” Hadley Supervisor Arthur “Mo” Wright said. “I don’t think anybody expected this.”
There had been at least one prior incident involving a disturbance between the couple, said Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen.
Michael Norton admitted in County Court that he recklessly discharged a gun inside the house, but it was not done in a threatening or intentionally injurious manner, she said.
Town Justice Leland Aldrich, 84, who’s been a judge more than 30 years, said he can’t recall another murder in Hadley during his lifetime.
3rd Avenue is part of a quiet residential neighborhood, located about a half mile north of Rockwell Street, the main road leading from Hadley to Great Sacandaga Lake.
Heggen declined comment when asked if evidence pointed to a physical struggle between the Nortons, immediately preceding last Wednesday’s attack. Michael Norton is unemployed and on disability, Sheriff’s Investigator Lt. Jeff Brown said.
Zurlo said Norton had an illness, not an injury,
which required hospitalization during the past week.
The couple’s 19-year-old daughter, Savannah, lived with them, but was not home when the incident occurred.
The Nortons’ niece, Renee Bovee, said Savannah is “obviously devastated” by what happened.
Heggen declined comment about what might have triggered the attack.
“I’m not going to discuss motives or things like that at this point in time,” she said.
Norton was also charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and pleaded not guilty to that as well.
Norton was represented by Saratoga County Public Defender Andrew Blumenberg.
A handcuffed Norton, wearing green pants and a bright orange jacket, was led into court by Sheriff’s Investigator Kevin Herrick.
He sat alone with head down awaiting proceedings and responded quietly, while standing before Aldrich, when asked if he understood the charges brought against him.
By law, a defendant cannot plead guilty to a felony in local justice court, only in county court, Heggen said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday in Hadley Town Court.