CASSOPOLIS — An Edwardsburg man who allegedly stabbed his sister 11 times with a knife was arraigned on a felony open murder charge Tuesday in Cass County Fourth District Court.

During arraignment, Prosecutor Victor Fitz offered details of the hours leading up to 59-year-old Edward J. Hensley’s alleged brutal murder of Martha Sexton in the 19000 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Mason Township Friday afternoon.

Fitz said Hensley had been simmering with anger toward Sexton for at least a week when he began consuming alcohol late Friday morning.

Hensley then allegedly stabbed Sexton approximately 11 times in the neck, throat and back, leaving a deep gash in her throat and an ear sliced almost in two.

Fitz said Hensley then fled the scene with the murder weapon to the Elkhart area, where police apprehended him.

Fitz said Hensley confessed to the crime.

Judge Stacey Rentfrow denied bail. Hensley is being held at the Cass County Jail. A pre-exam conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 11 and a preliminary examination is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 12.

Hensley said he had been living at the U.S. 12 location in Edwardsburg for a little more than two years.

With an open murder charge, the prosecution has the discretion to charge Hensley with first-degree murder, felony murder, second-degree murder or 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.