A March 19, 2018 trial date was set for Ralph Bowling III in Barry Circuit Court Thursday.

Charges against Bowling include open murder, attempted murder, home invasion and arson, all in connection of the death of his estranged wife Cheyenne Bowling in the early morning hours of  June 11.

Cheyenne Bowling, 26, had left her husband and moved in with her mother and stepfather Melissa and Tim Wymer on Bird Road in Baltimore Township. In a preliminary court hearing in July, testimony revealed that Bowling had suspected for about six months that his wife and a co-worker, Nathan Farrell, were in an "inappropriate relationship." 

On the night of the homicide, Bowling confronted his wife and Farrell at the Wymer home. Bowling admitted to investigators that he shot Farrell in the neck during the altercation that followed. Farrell fled the Wymer home, getting help from a neighbor.

Bowling is charged with chasing Cheyenne Bowling out of the house onto the driveway, and shooting her. A forensic pathologist testified that she was shot in the left side of the face at close range, likely with a 410 shotgun.

According to testimony, Bowling then went to his Coats Grove home and set it on fire, intending to commit suicide. He changed his mind, and several hours later, turned himself in to authorities.

Bowling’s final pre-trial hearing is set for Feb. 2, 2018.

Upon conviction, open murder carries a life sentence, attempted murder can be life or any term of years, home invasion is 20 years, and arson, a possible 20 years.