The Superior Express -

As expected, a 30-year-old Superior resident was arraigned in county court last Wednesday and bound over to district court where he will asnwer charges associated with the death of another Superior resident on Dec. 17.

Sebastian L. Dunbar has been charged with first degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and intentional child abuse without serious bodily injury.

According to the arrest affidavit, Dunbar and the deceased victim, Molly Guber, 35, were involved in a domestic dispute at their shared residence at 1216 Idaho Street on Dec. 17. The couple’s 2-year old daughter was also at the same house during the altercation.

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol found Gruber had been shot in the back through the front door of the home. She also had multiple injuries to her face, arms, hands and legs.

Dunbar told told authorities he and Gruber had a physical dispute as he attempted to remove her from the house. He picked up a rifle in another room of the house and had gone outside. Attempting to return to the house, he found the front door locked and shot one round through the door. That shot struck Gruber. Dunbar then gained entrance to the house through another door and called emergency services. He remained at the scene and was arrested.

Gruber was moved about a block down the street to Brodstone Healthcare’s hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Judge Michael Burns appointed Ben Murray, the public defender, to represent Dunbar. It is likely Ben and Joe Murray will work together to preparre his defense.

An additional hearing has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19 in district court.

First-degree murder is a Class 1 felony punishable by the death penalty or life in prison. Use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony is a Class IC felony punishable by five to 50 years in prison. Intentional child abuse that did not result in a serious bodyily injury is a Class 3A felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

With regard to the couple’s daughter, prior to the placement hearing, Ben Murray was appointed as Sebastian Dunbar’s attorney. The placement hearing was also held last Wednesday morning. Following the incident at the family home, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services had placed the youngster, Ada Dunbar, with a local family as a temporary emergency action, After the hearing, the court found that placement would continue for the present time. A pre-ajudication hearing was set for Jan. 19.

On Dec. 29 a complaint for leave to intervene was filed by Joshua Johnson, an attorney, on behalf of Terry and Deborah Gruber, the child’s grandparents. The Grubers seek to have child placed in their home.