Teen Held In Fathers Death

A 19-year-old St. James man has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for his father’s death. According to officials with the Phelps County Sheriff’s department, Samuel Ralph James Karlinski has been charged for the crimes which occurred on Monday. Phelps County 911 received a call at 8:51 a.m. on Feb. 6 about a shooting at a residence near St. James. Upon arrival, deputies found Ralph Leon Karlinski Jr. dead from apparent gunshot wounds. A witness reported that Karlinski had shot his father three times with a 22 caliber gun. Samuel Karlinski was arrested and taken to the Phelps County Jail without bond. According to the probable cause statement, Samuel said he shot Ralph twice in the chest and once in the head in self-defense. No court date has yet been set.