SUSPECT BACK IN JAIL AFTER HARASSING CALLS BAIL UPPED TO $500,000 FOR

Accused of making harassing phone calls and threatening to jump bail, Michael Rydholm is back in jail.

The 24-year-old Spokane Valley bookkeeper is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's infant daughter.

Following his arrest early this month, Rydholm posted $150,000 bail.

Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue upped it to $500,000 Tuesday after hearing what he called "remarkable evidence" of the defendant's stated desire to flee.

Donohue also cited emotional testimony from the victim's mother and grandmother, who said Rydholm harassed them with phone calls while out of jail.

The calls, the judge said, "amount to intimidation."

Deputy Prosecutor Dawn Cortez said Rydholm violated a key condition of his jail release by contacting the victim's family.

The child's mother, Dannette York, testified that Rydholm called Friday night and begged her to listen to him.

"I told him not to ever call me again, and I called him a murderer," she said.

Testimony indicating he also followed York in his car earlier that night was disputed by Kari Rydholm, the defendant's estranged wife.

She said her husband was depressed and threatening to jump bail, so she took his car keys Friday to prevent that from happening.

Defense attorney John Rodgers said bail should remain at $150,000, which he called "a staggering amount of money."

Rodgers stressed that his client is presumed innocent of the murder charge and is cooperating with authorities.

Rydholm did not testify Tuesday. He appeared in court conservatively dressed - in a long-sleeve white shirt, tie and slacks.

Authorities say Rydholm admitted shaking and throwing 10-month-old Chelsey York on Oct. 3, while babysitting the fussy infant in his apartment.

The child suffered a skull fracture and died the following night at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

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