Recent Posts in Violent Crimes Category

In Flint, Michigan, a woman and her son called police and told them that the son had been kidnapped this past Monday.  Law enforcement said that the kidnapping may have occurred because the son and his brothers stole marijuana from nearby drug dealers.

When speaking with police, the son said that he had been walking when two strangers began to chase him.  Once the two males caught up with him, they forced him into the back of a small, black vehicle.  Police say the incident took place during the evening hours.

Once the victim was secured in the vehicle, the two males drove him to an area near Flushing and Dupont Street.  They then pulled him from the back of the care and proceeded to beat his face.  After hitting the victim several times, the two males ran away.

The mother told police that she believes the incident occurred because of the drug theft and that she fears for her sons' lives.

If you have committed a criminal offense in Michigan, such as a theft crime or kidnapping, you should speak with a Michigan criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman as soon as possible. Contact us today to discuss your case and defense strategy.

A Troy woman has been charged with negligent homicide in connection with a fatal auto accident that left her passenger dead.

The accident occurred back in December when the driver, 19-year-old Paige Yoo-Na Vella, made an unlawful left turn under a blinking red light. As Vella was making the turn her car was hit on the passenger side by an SUV. Her passenger, 17-year-old Kristen Wilhelm, also from Troy, was critically injured. She had to be extricated from the vehicle and was rushed to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. She died the next day. 

Vella suffered only minor injuries in the accident, as did the 19-year-old driver of the SUV. There were two other passengers in the SUV, but neither person was injured.

After investigating the accident, the Troy Police Department determined that alcohol and drugs were not a factor in the accident.

Vella is scheduled to appear back in court February 17. She has since been released on $5,000 bond. If she is found guilty of the charges she could be sentenced to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

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!

Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputies are searching for two men suspected of robbing the Meijer store located at 1703 Haggerty Road.

Deputies were called around 5 a.m. yesterday morning. They say the two suspects were hiding in a stairway to the employee area where the store’s cash is located. According to police, six employees were walking to the area to get cash for their registers when the men attacked.

One of the suspects allegedly held an employee at gunpoint and demanded that he get him access to the cash. The employee could not comply because he did not possess a key to the office.

All six employees were then forced into a room and told they wouldn’t be hurt if they complied with the robbers’ orders.  

The store manager was eventually grabbed from behind and ordered to open the door to the cash office. She complied and stuffed money into a garbage bag. The suspects then tied her hands together.

Once the suspect took the garbage bag, he and the other suspect left the building.

The entire ordeal lasted about nine minutes, according to sheriff’s deputies.

Both men are wanted for armed robbery.

If you or someone you know has been charged with armed robbery or another violent  theft offense in Wayne or Oakland County, it’s crucial that you consult an experienced Michigan criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman right away. Armed robbery is a  felony offense, punishable by years in state prison and heavy fines. To ensure you have the aggressive defense you need against armed robbery charges,  contact Freedman & Freedman today by calling (877) 858-5297 or by filling out a free case evaluation.

An Oakland County couple was formally charged with first-degree murder last week for the death of Kmart employee Greg Paul Wainio.

The charges stem from an incident that took place Jan. 14 at the Kmart store located at 3541 Highland Road.  One of the suspects, 39-year-old James Dead Woodworth, stole $400 worth of CDs.  The victim, who worked in loss prevention, followed Woodworth out of the store and struggled with him as he got into a vehicle driven by the second suspect, 20-year-old Samantha Lorraine Lomasney.

According to the Waterford Township Police Department, Lomasney took off at high speeds.  Meanwhile, Woodworth tried to close the door, but Wainio would not let him.  Lomasney then allegedly hit two pillars in an attempt to dislodge Wainio from the car.  In doing so, Wainio ended up getting crushed between the door and the vehicle.  Lomasney then hit a second pillar, which caused Wainio to fall.  He was consequently dragged 221 feet. When he arrived at a local hospital he was pronounced dead.

Several witnesses followed the suspects to their home, where they were eventually arrested.

In addition to the murder charges, both have also been charged with unarmed robbery.  Lomasney faces an additional charge of operating a vehicle with a suspended, revoked, or denied license causing death.

The murder charges alone could result in a life sentence for both Woodworth and Lomasney. The other two charges are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Both suspects remain in custody since the judge denied bond. A preliminary examination was scheduled for yesterday.