Man Pleads Guilty in Elderly Woman’s Murder Case

A man accused of murdering an 89-year-old woman and setting her house on fire has accepted a plea deal.

On February 22, Michael Bush, 26, will begin a 30 to 60 year prison sentence for the murder of Frances Cothern. Under a plea agreement, Bush pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Wayne County Circuit Court. The deal was reached just days before his case was set for trial. If he were convicted at trial he could have been sentenced to life in prison.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on November 18, 2008. According to police, Cothern was at her home in Van Buren Township when she was robbed and beaten by Bush. Bush then set her house on fire and fled the scene. Cothern passed away from injuries she sustained in the fire.

Bush’s case is an example of when accepting a plea bargain might be a better option than taking one’s chances in court. Had Bush gone to trial and been found guilty, it is very likely he would have been sentenced to life in prison for the crimes he committed. And although Bush will now spend 30 to 60 years in prison, there’s a better chance he won’t have to spend his entire life behind bars.

At the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman, we are committed to helping our clients secure the best possible outcome to their cases, whether that means accepting plea deal or taking a case to trial. If you have recently been arrested or charged with a crime and are looking for an experienced, hard working, and dedicated Michigan criminal defense attorney to represent you case, please  contact Freedman & Freedman today to arrange a consultation to discuss your case!