A 38-year-old man accused of strangling his wife, their 2-year-old daughter and their 8-year-old son  told a judge Wednesday that he wants to plead insanity. Timothy Fradeneck was arraigned on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his wife and children, whose bodies were found Monday in their Eastpointe, Michigan home. He is also charged with child abuse. Authorities say that Fradeneck used a USB cord to kill 37-year-old Christine Fradeneck and the children, Celeste Fradeneck and Timothy Fradeneck III (called Trey). Scroll down for video . Emotionless: Timothy Fradeneck appeared in Macomb County, Michigan court on Wednesday, and was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in the triple murder of his wife and two young children . Heartless: The bodies of Christine Fradeneck (top left), 2-year-old Celeste (being held by father) and 8-year-old Timothy III (called Trey, bottom left) were found Monday evening at the family's home in Eastpointe . Overwhelmed: Family members from both Timothy and his wife Christine's side of the family appeared in court, crying and hugging. They made no comments to reporters about the tragic loss . At Fradeneck's arraignment Wednesday, Eastpointe District Judge Carl Gerds III asked if he wanted to say anything. 'No, sir,' Fradeneck said. The judge then ordered him jailed without bond, and appointed him an attorney. 'I would like to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of mental insanity,' Fradeneck said. The judge then told him he had already ruled. 'I tried to kill myself,' Fradeneck said, adding, 'It wasn't about...' before Gerds cut him off. Sent to jail: Eastpointe District Judge Carl Gerds III ordered Fradeneck held without bond. He also shut down the 38-year-old from prematurely entering a not-guilty by reason of insanity plea . Confession: Fradeneck allegedly told police that he strangled his wife, 2-year-old daughter Celeste and 8-year-old son Timothy III to death with a USB cord. Pictured above entering court on Wednesday . Insane? Police said they also found medications prescribed to Fradeneck in the home, but would not say whether those were to treat any sort of mental illness . Scene: Above, the Fradeneck's Bungalow. Police said they found the wife and two children dead in their beds . Shaken community: Neighbor JeQuita Breham talks to the media as police block the street during the murder investigation on Monday . The judge scheduled a hearing April 28 in advance of a probable-cause hearing on whether Fradeneck will stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court. If convicted on the three counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder and first-degree child abuse, Fradeneck could stand to spend the rest of his life in prison. Police discovered the bodies Monday evening around 6:50pm after getting a call from Christine Fradeneck's sister, saying she was worried about her sister after not hearing from her all day. Police say Timothy Fradeneck opened the door and let the officers enter, insisting that his wife and children were sleeping. When officers refused to leave, they say Fradeneck copped to killing all three. Their bodies were found lying in their beds. Tragic loss: Fradeneck had been married to his wife for 16 years. Christine Fradeneck pictured above with her daughter in a photo posted to her Facebook . Young lives cut short: The two Fradeneck children were set to celebrate birthdays in the next two weeks . Planned? In court on Wednesday, prosecutors said Fradeneck had been planing the murder of his wife and two children since August . 'Timothy advised officers that his family was dead and that he had killed them by strangulation with a USB cable,' Detective Matt Hambright told the judge. Investigators also found medications prescribed to Fradeneck inside the home, but it not yet known if those drugs were to treat any sort of mental illness. Police said there was no history of domestic disturbance calls at the home. The Fradenecks had been married 16 years and their two children were set to celebrate birthdays in the coming two weeks. On Wednesday, prosecutors said Fradeneck had been planning the murders since August and killed his family sometime late Sunday or early morning when 'the opportunity presented itself.' Family members from both Fradeneck's side of the family and his wife's, appeared in court on Wednesday crying and hugging. The family members refused to comment on the tragic case outside the courthouse. The family issued a statement Wednesday, saying it was 'hopeful that the justice system will prevail and the person responsible for this will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.' Kate Fradeneck said her brother was dealing with a mental illness and asked the public to keep him in their thoughts. The family members have not elaborated on Timothy Fradeneck's mental illness. 'Even with the poor choices that he made, please remember he's also lost his family,' she told The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens. 'No one knows or can understand the pain that he is in.' Since the bodies of Mrs Fradeneck and her two children were found Monday evening, a memorial of stuffed animals has been growing on the steps of the family's bungalow. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the cost of the Fradnecks' funeral.
Timothy Fradeneck, 38, appeared in court on Wednesday as he was arraigned on first-degree murder and child abuse charges .
Fradeneck's wife Christine, 37, their 2-year-old daughter Celeste and  8-year-old son Timothy III were found dead in their home on Monday .
When police searched the home, Fradeneck allegedly confessed to strangling all three with a USB cord .
In court on Wednesday, Fradeneck was emotionless through the proceedings and prematurely tried to enter an insanity plea .
If convicted on the charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison .