Friday, April 26, 2013
Farmington Hills Police Chief Chuck Nebus says broadcasting the tapes invades victims' privacy. Tell us what you think in our poll or with a comment.
A state lawmaker from Plymouth says a widely publicized homicide in Farmington Hills makes the case for limiting the release of 911 tapes under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). State Rep. Kurt Heise said he introduced the bill after talking with Farmington Hills Police Chief Chuck Nebus about the April 16, 2012 attack on the Cipriano family in their Farmington Hills home. Tucker Cipriano and his friend Mitchell Young face a June trial on felony charges connected with the beating death of Tucker's father, Robert, and attacks on his mother, Rose, and brother, Salvatore. Nebus said he began receiving requests on the morning of the attack for tapes of the 911 call made by Salvatore's twin brother Tanner. Initially, all media …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Last year's wildly successful benefit for the children of slain Farmington Hills resident Robert Cipriano drew more than 2,000 people to the Farmington Family YMCA.
A 5k fun run and walk that last year raised more than $60,000 for the children of Robert Cipriano, killed in a brutal attack on his family, returns June 7 to the Farmington Family YMCA. The inaugural Cipriano Classic far exceeded organizers' expectations, drawing more than 2,200 participants. "We were truly astounded by last year's participation. The outpouring of support from the Farmington community and beyond exceeded all expectations," event co-chair Jenny Birmelin said. "With more time to plan this year, we are looking forward to seeing everyone once again and uniting the community in support of the Cipriano family." Robert's wife, Rose, and his son, Salvatore, were seriously injured in the April 16, 2012 attack; Salvatore's twin …
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The two are charged with several felonies in connection with the murder of Tucker's father, Robert, and assaults on his mother and brother, in April 2012.
A pre-trial for Tucker Cipriano and Mitchell Young was held in the judge's chambers Tuesday afternoon, according to media reports. It has been nearly a year since the attack on the Cipriano family in their Farmington Hills home. Robert Cipriano was killed, and his wife, Rose, and son, Salvatore, were critically wounded. The Ciprianos' son Tucker and his friend Mitchell Young face multiple felony counts, including first-degree premeditated murder, in connection with the crimes. According to The Oakland Press, a trial date is set for June 10. The two will have a joint trial with separate juries. After the private pre-trial hearing Tuesday, Cipriano's lawyer Mitchell Ribitwer told the media that the meeting was to discuss any loose ends …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
William Michael Dhondt has also received a second felony charge of dismemberment of a human body.
William Michael Dhondt, who is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Kaitlin Elizabeth Hehir, will now undergo a psychiatric examination to determine if he is competent to stand trial, according to an article in the Observer & Eccentric. The exam of Dhondt, 28, was requested by his attorney in court on Tuesday, the article states. Proceedings are being held at the 45A District Court in Berkley because Hehir was an employee of the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, where judges knew and worked with her. In addition to being charged with premeditated murder, Dhondt was given a second felony charge Tuesday of dismemberment of a human body, according to the Observer & Eccentric. He faces life in prison for the …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The man convicted of killing Lloyd and Dorothy Smith remains in prison, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The death Farmington resident Kaitlin Hehir, 29, whose body was found in her home on Colchester Saturday, was the first homicide investigated by Farmington Public Safety in nearly eight years. The last time homicide touched the community, residents mourned the death of a kind, elderly couple whose generosity of spirit was repaid with violence. Lloyd Smith, Jr., 87, and Dorothy Smith, 85, were stabbed to death on Sept. 7, 2005, in their home on State Street by a man they had tried to help a number of times. Robert Dawayne Jackson, now 54, was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence without possibility of parole at Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, MI. According to reports …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
William Michael Dhondt is being held without bail and faces a charge of premeditated murder.
William Michael Dhondt, 28, faces a charge of premeditated murder in the death of Kaitlin Elizabeth Hehir, 29, whose body was discovered Saturday in the Farmington home she and Dhondt shared. According to a Farmington Public Safety Dept. press release, Dhondt was arraigned in front of Judge James Wittenberg of the 45A District Court in Berkley at 3 p.m. Tuesday. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he was ordered held without bond in the Oakland County jail. A pre-exam conference court date is scheduled March 5, 10:30 a.m., at the 45A District Court. Proceedings are being held there because Hehir was an employee of the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, where judges knew and worked with her. A funeral service for Hehir…
Farmington Public Safety Director Bob Schulz says crisis counselors may be called as officers have time to reflect on the tragedy.
Charges are expected today in connection with the murder of Kaitlin Elizabeth Hehir, 29, whose body was discovered Saturday in the Farmington home she shared with the man suspected of killing her. WJBK-TV reported Monday that grief counselors were called in Monday to the 47th District Court building in Farmington Hills, where Hehir had worked for the past four and a half years. The station reported that Hehir was from Plymouth and had lived in Farmington only a few months. Court administrator Dave Walsh told the Detroit Free Press Monday that Hehir was "incredibly bright – a friendly wonderful kid". The newspaper reported that officials said her body was dismembered, with remains found "in buckets in the garage and basement". While the …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Christine Frederick discovered her son, Neil Lilly, cold and unresponsive late Monday morning.
Christine Frederick, who said she once provided a home to a Farmington Hills man accused of killing his father and assaulting his mother and brother, has lost her son to a suspected drug overdose. According to a Farmington Hills Police report, Frederick found her son Neil Lilly, 20, at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Frederick told police that her son came home late Sunday night and was constantly rubbing his nose. The report indicated that Frederick asked him whether he had taken any drugs, and he said he hadn't. Lilly laid down to sleep on his mother's bed, the report noted, and Frederick laid beside him until he fell asleep. When she checked on him the next morning, she told police, he was cold and unresponsive. Lilly was taken to …
Friday, December 21, 2012
Officers who took the stand at a Thursday hearing in Circuit Court said Tucker Cipriano did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol hours after a brutal assault on his family.
Statements made by two Farmington Hills Police officers in Oakland County Circuit Court Thursday shed more light on the hours and days following the April 16 attack on the Cipriano family in their Farmington Hills home. Robert Cipriano was killed and his wife, Rose, and son, Salvatore, were critically wounded. The Ciprianos' 19-year-old son Tucker and his friend Mitchell Young face multiple felony counts in connection with the crimes. On Thursday, Judge Shalina Kumar ruled that statements Tucker Cipriano made while talking with police on April 16, 17 and 18 will remain in evidence. Cipriano's attorney Mitchell Ribitwer sought to suppress the statements, due to his client's use of drugs before the crimes and possible problems with his …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Attorney Mitchell Ribitwer argued that statements the teen made to police in the days after a brutal attack on his family should be suppressed.
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 …
Lynne Gagner
6:39 am on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Releasing a tape to the media isn't the same a Tahoe being admissible in court. There would still be access, just on a limited basis. more ›