Hadley man indicted on murder charge in wife's death

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ned Campbell

Michael Norton enters Hadley Town Court on May 8 after he was charged in connection with the death of his wife, Sherry.

HADLEY — The man accused last week of using an ax to kill his wife was indicted Monday by a Saratoga County grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder, District Attorney Karen Heggen said.

Michael Norton, 58, was also indicted on charges of aggravated criminal contempt, a felony, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, Heggen said in a prepared statement.

Sherry Norton, 52, of Hadley, was found dead May 3 in her home at 7 Third Ave., after sheriff’s deputies were called there shortly before 1 a.m.

Deputies also found Michael Norton in the home, and he was taken to Saratoga Hospital to be treated for an undisclosed illness. He was arrested Tuesday, May 9, after being released from a doctor’s care.

He is accused of causing Sherry Norton’s death by striking her in the back and the head with an ax, Heggen said.

As he entered court last week, he told reporters, “I love my wife very much, and I did not mean for this to happen.”

A preliminary hearing set for Monday morning in Hadley Town Court was canceled as a result of the indictment being handed up.

Sherry Norton had an active “refrain from” order of protection against Michael Norton, based on an April 22, 2016, incident, court records show. Such orders allow people to be in each other’s presence, as opposed to “stay away” orders.

He admitted April 5 in Saratoga County Court to recklessly discharging a weapon in the home with two people — Sherry Norton and their daughter, Savannah, 19 — inside, Heggen said. He was due to be sentenced for first-degree reckless endangerment on May 31.

“This new arrest will change the circumstances concerning that case,” Heggen said last week.