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Mark John Soule, 49, of Austin Township has been charged with two counts of open murder in the deaths of his live-in girlfriend, Joan Boal, 50, and her daughter, Stacey Kredell, 30 of Bad Axe. Soule is lodged the Sanilac County Jail in lieu of $750,000 bond, awaiting a preliminary exam on March 25.

Authorities found the bodies of the women in a machine shed at 1330 Charleston Road the morning of March 10, after Soule allegedly called Central Dispatch to report he had murdered two people.

Autopsy results indicated the women died the previous night, after being stabbed in the mid-torso area with a sharp cutting instrument. Police believe Soule killed the women in his trailer house, and then took the bodies to the pole building next to the house, according to Sheriff Virgil Strickler.

"They were together in the bar...a good portion of the day, drinking," said Strickler. Asked if drinking was a factor in the deaths, he said, "It appears that would be the case."

Police are awaiting the toxicology report from the crime lab, which "may allow us to understand what took place," said sheriff's Detective Sgt. Jim Johnson. The report will include blood-alcohol levels.

The investigation indicates "a tragic domestic violence and alcohol was involved," said Johnson.

Officers are interviewing family members, friends and acquaintances, and businesses the three frequented, to "see if there was a history" behind the violence, said Johnson.

Alcohol-driven violence is an all-too familiar pattern in the county, according to Strickler. He said officers "were talking after the murders, and we came to the agreement that in every homicide we've handled the perpetrator was either drunk or under the influence of drugs."

Strickler added, "There's no question Mr. Soule is an alcoholic, he's been in and out of our system many times."