News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Family, friends, and supporters of Brynn Bills react to the news that Brad Srebnik, who is accused of killing Bills, was bound over to circuit court. Srebnik and Joshua Wirgau are also accused of killing Abby Hill in 2021.

ALPENA — A man accused of killing two women in 2021 was on Thursday bound over to 26th Circuit Court in Alpena to face trial.

Brad Srebnik is accused of murdering Alpena women Brynn Bills and Abby Hill. Autopsy reports show Bills was allegedly strangled to death and Hill shot in the back of the head.

Judge Alan Curtis of 88th District Court determined Thursday there was enough evidence to move Srebnik’s case forward to the higher court.

Srebnik is charged with two counts of premeditated murder, weapons charges, and disinterment and mutilation of a body. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

A second man implicated in the crimes, Joshua Wirgau, will learn his fate on Friday. He faces one count of premeditated murder, disinterment, weapons charges, and a count of accessory after the fact to a felony.

Both men are currently serving two-year prison sentences on weapon charges from an unrelated crime also in 2021.

Curtis said the evidence presented to the court and witness testimony from forensic pathologist Joyce DeYoung met the probable cause standards to advance the case toward trial.

Bills was reported missing in early August 2021 and her remains were eventually found buried in the back yard of Wirgau’s house. The prosecution believes Srebnik killed Bills at his home and moved the body, eventually renting an excavator to bury the body.

Hill, Srebnik’s girlfriend, was reported missing on Oct. 5, 2021 and her remains were found in a wooded area behind the Holcim Identity Plant on Oct. 15. The prosecution says she was killed by a single gunshot to the head.

During the preliminary hearing earlier this week, a cellmate of Srebnik said Srebnik told him that he didn’t have a choice but to kill Hill because she knew too much, presumably about Bills’ disappearance and death.

From the start of the hearings, there has been a heavy presence of police officers and much of the courtroom was filled with family, friends, and supporters of Bills, many wearing T-shirts that said “Justice for Brynn” or had her photo on them. When Curtis announced his decision to bind the case over, there were signs of relief, tears, and even a high five.

The next step in the process continues in court on Friday at 8:30 p.m. when the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which is leading the prosecution, and Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski will wrap up their arguments against Wirgau.

There is no date for when Srebnik will be arraigned in circuit court.