Judge Rules Tucker Cipriano's Confession Not Influenced by Drugs

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar ruled late Thursday that statements made by Tucker Cipriano in the days following a brutal attack on his family will remain in evidence. 

During a hearing broadcast live on WDIV-TV's website, Cipriano's attorney Mitchell Ribitwer asked that Kumar suppress what the 19-year-old said following the murder of his father, Robert, and attacks on his mother, Rose, and brother, Salvatore, in their Farmington Hills home on April 16. Another brother, Tanner, and sister, Isabella, escaped unharmed. 

During about three hours of testimony, during which Tucker Cipriano testified, Ribitwer pointed to the teen's diagnoses of learning disabilities and emotional impairments as possibly limiting his ability to understand his Miranda rights. In addition, Tucker Cipriano testifed that he ingested large quantities of the drug known as K2 or Spice, hallucinogenic mushrooms and possibly alcohol, to the point of overdosing.

Kumar said she watched the tapes of the interview and did not see evidence that Tucker Cipriano was under the influence. He appeared "to understand and answer the questions better than he did in court today," she said. "To me, he seemed to understand every question that was asked." 

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch for updates.