In the quiet community of Bedford Township, a suburb of Battle Creek, Michigan, the life of 62-year-old Charlotte Sue Freiny came to a tragic and violent end on January 18, 2022. A beloved mother and grandmother, Freiny was known for her love of family, gardening, and animals. She was a dedicated employee at Tenneco Manufacturing for a decade, having previously attended Olivet High School and Bay Mills Community College.
Her life, however, was cut short in an act of domestic violence that stunned those who knew her.
The events of that fateful night unfolded within the walls of the home she shared with her long-term boyfriend, 58-year-old Gary Vogt. An argument, reportedly stemming from Vogt's back surgeries, escalated with devastating consequences. After the dispute, Vogt retrieved a handgun, loaded it with six bullets, and shot Freiny multiple times. He later confessed to authorities that he 'emptied the whole thing on her.' It was Vogt himself who contacted 911 in the early hours of the morning, admitting to the dispatcher that he had just killed his girlfriend.
Upon their arrival at the North Gardner Avenue residence, law enforcement officers discovered Charlotte Freiny's body and secured the murder weapon. Vogt was taken into custody and subsequently charged with open murder and a felony firearm offense. During the investigation, he admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to the argument. He was arraigned in Calhoun County District Court and was denied bond.
Gary Vogt's legal proceedings concluded on October 28, 2022, when he was sentenced to a term of up to 30 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Charlotte Freiny. However, justice in the eyes of the law would be short-lived. Merely a few days after his sentencing, on November 2, 2022, Gary Vogt died while in the custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections.
