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Authorities arraigned the suspect Tuesday in 73rd District Court on two counts of open murder. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Mark John Soule, 49, who has an Ubly mailing address, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Janice Boal, 50, who lived with Soule, and her daughter, Stacey Ann Kredell, 30 of Bad Axe.

Soule appeared before Circuit Judge Donald Teeple from the county jail, where he was arraigned through an audio-video system. Teeple set bail at $750,000 and scheduled the preliminary examination for Tuesday, March 25 at 2 p.m.

Teeple, who was sitting in for District Judge James Marcus who was out of town, advised Soule to petition for a court appointed attorney, when the defendant requested legal representation and said he couldn't afford a lawyer.

Undersheriff Garry Biniecki spoke to the suspect when the call came into Central Dispatch Monday at 7:20 a.m. The caller reported he had killed two people.

"I told him to wait outside Ð they (police) would be there shortly," said Undersheriff Garry Biniecki.

"He was waiting in the driveway when deputies arrived. He stated where the victims were, and they confirmed that," Biniecki said.

Investigators found the two victims inside a machine shed at 1330 Charleston Road in Sanilac County's Austin Township. The green and white shed is located east of a trailer house where Soule and the older woman resided.

An autopsy was scheduled Tuesday morning to determine the cause and manner of death and a timeframe for the murders.

"We believe it was several hours earlier, possibly in the evening," said Biniecki. "The autopsy results today (Tuesday) will show exact time of death."

The victims " were located together" inside the pole building, said the undersheriff, who refused to elaborate.

"Evidence was recovered at the scene," he added, when asked if a weapon had been found.

He indicated the suspect "was cooperating" with police.

"We're familiar with the suspect," said Biniecki. "He has "no major assualtve behavior. A lot of lesser petty crimes"

The Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Bridgeport assisted with the investigation, along with law enforcement investigators from Minden City and the Huron County Sheriff's Office.

"I want to reassure the people we believe this was an isolated incident at this location, and there's no need to fear any other perpetrators," said the undersheriff. "He is in custody at the sheriff department."