The man charged in the 2023 killing of his grandfather formally admitted his role in the crime Thursday, entering a guilty plea in Houghton County’s 12th Circuit Court.
Jacob Kempainen, now 22, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 18, 2023, death of his grandfather, Alvin Kempainen. The plea resolves several charges that had been pending against him for more than a year.
According to a press release from the Houghton County Prosecutor’s Office, the plea agreement dismisses the open murder charge, a conspiracy charge, and a firearm charge previously filed against Jacob. In exchange, prosecutors secured a sentencing agreement that caps his minimum sentence at no more than 15 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Houghton County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Helmer said the agreement followed careful consideration of both legal and evidentiary challenges. “This plea offer was made after lengthy discussions with investigators, a careful evaluation of the evidence, and in consultation with multiple family members of the victim, Alvin Kempainen,” Helmer said to WLUC.
Helmer explained that the case faced significant hurdles after Jacob’s statement to police was thrown out. “Unfortunately, although Jacob invoked his Miranda rights prior to questioning, Iowa police did not honor his request, and his entire statement was suppressed by the Court,” he said. “The entire case then hinged on the testimony of his then-juvenile sister, which presented concerns for both the lead detective.”
A recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling also influenced negotiations. “The Michigan Supreme Court recently found, inexplicably, that automatic life without parole sentences for 20-year-olds are unconstitutional,” Helmer said. “Jacob was 20 at the time of the murder, and that decision took away a lot of the leverage my office had in plea negotiations.”
Helmer added that securing cooperation against Jacob’s mother, co-defendant Margaret Kempainen, was a critical factor. “Another strong factor in this plea offer was doing whatever I could to secure a conviction against Jacob’s mother, Margaret Kempainen, for her role in this horrible crime – no plea offer has been extended to her.”
During the plea hearing, Jacob gave a statement describing how he, Margaret, and his sister drove to Alvin’s home in Hancock Township. He told the court that he shot his grandfather and then, after encouragement from Margaret, shot him a second time.
Jacob will be sentenced by Judge Brittany Bulleit within the next 75 to 90 days. His attorney was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Margaret Kempainen’s case continues to face delays. Her jury trial, currently set for January 2026, was adjourned again on Thursday to allow an appeal of recent evidentiary rulings. Expressing frustration, Helmer said, “I am, and have been, ready, willing, and able to present this case to a jury and seek justice for Alvin Kempainen and his family.”
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