The Cass County Prosecutor’s Office has authorized open murder charges on a man arrested for allegedly stabbing his sister to death in Mason Township Friday afternoon.

Edward Hensley, 59, is currently in the Elkhart County Jail awaiting extradition to Cass County to face charges.

Hensley is accused of killing Martha Sexton at approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday in the 19000 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Cass County.

Prosecutor Victor Fitz said he anticipates Hensely will be arraigned in Cass County Fourth District Court before Judge Stacey Rentfrow at approximately 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The open murder charge allows the prosecutor to use his discretion in what charge to bring forward in trial, including first-degree murder, felony murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter.

The penalty for first-degree murder and felony murder is mandatory life in prison, second-degree murder life or any number of years in prison and manslaughter 15 years in prison.

According to police, Hensley and Sexton had been living at the U.S. 12 address for approximately 10 days.

Hensley was located by police in Elkhart, Ind.