Mary Brownell – 40
Lawrence Allen – 52 Ceresco, MI
On October 21, Mary Brownell’s ex-husband came to the side door of her home. Her boyfriend, Lawrence Allen, answered the door and was allegedly immediately shot and killed by the ex-husband who then entered the home and also shot and killed Mary. The couple had a 12-year-old daughter who was in the home at the time of the murders. They also had a 9-year-old son who was not at home. The ex-husband then called his parents to say what he had done and that he planned to kill himself. Police found the suspect in a nearby cemetery where he wounded himself with a shotgun. The ex-husband is the prime suspect in the murders.
Kimberly L. Butler – 29
Ecorse, MI
On March 13, investigators believe that Kimberly Butler was killed by her boyfriend, Osborn Broadnax, who then set fire to her body. Broadnax is charged with first degree murder.
Markeda Byas – 31
Arctavia Reed – 2 months Pontiac, MI
On July 20, when Markeda Byas did not go to work, the police began looking for her. They found her in her burned apartment bedroom dead of a gunshot wound to her head and her 2-month-old daughter, Arctavia Reed, dead of smoke inhalation. Markeda’s boyfriend, Jimmie Reed Jr., is charged with both murders. Police believe that Reed shot Markeda and then set fire to her apartment to make her death appear accidental. Police allege that Reed did not want to pay child support and did not want his other girlfriends to know of his relationship with Markeda.
Lynne Chapman – 35
Lake Ann, MI
On May 7, Lynne Chapman and her husband, Daniel Lee Chapman, were allegedly arguing about their impending divorce. Police believe that Daniel shot Lynne twice and then turned the gun on himself. The couple’s 12-year-old son discovered the bodies.
David Clark – 34
Ypsilanti Township, MI
On May 8, David Clark was allegedly stabbed to death by his live-in girlfriend. The couple had 4 children who were all in the home at the time of the stabbing.
Siraquana Cotton – 25
Marissa Mosley – 2
Detroit, MI
On June 22, Siraquana Cotton was styling her sister’s hair in the kitchen of her home. Her estranged boyfriend, Charles “Eastwood” Epperson, allegedly knocked down her front door and appeared in the home with a gun. According to witnesses, he shot Siraquana in the head and then shot her 2-year-old daughter, Marissa Mosley, killing her as well. Epperson fled the house threatening to kill the other seven people who were in the home at the time. Police report that there were several domestic violence calls to the home prior to the murder. Eastwood was convicted of felonious assault and assault with a deadly weapon in a previous domestic violence case for which he served five years in prison. A few hours after the murders, police received a call that a man had jumped into the Detroit River. They dragging the river and found Epperson’s body.
Johnny Carolyn Fielder – 63 Gladwin, MI
On January 2, James Fielder allegedly entered his wife’s (Johnny Carolyn Fielder) bedroom and shot her in the head as she slept. He then allegedly returned to his own bedroom and shot himself.
Candy Fisher – 38
Michael Fisher Jr. – 14 Battle Creek, MI
On December 28, police speculate that Candy Fisher’s husband, Michael Fisher Sr., shot and killed Candy and her son, Michael. The two were found in their home and Fisher was found and arrested shortly after and charged with open murder. There was a record of domestic violence calls to the house.
Julie Fisher -17 Eastpointe, MI
On December 8, Julie Fisher’s ex-boyfriend, Andrew Colbert, strangled her to death in her home while her mother slept in an upstairs bedroom. Colbert has been convicted of first degree murder.
Tonya Goble-Studer – 23 Niles, MI
Vickyann Winslow Dewey Lakeside, MI
On April 28, Tonya Goble-Studer and her two children were staying with her mother, Vickyann Winslow Dewey, because Tonya’s husband, Gary Wayne Studer, had previously aimed a gun at her and threatened to kill her. Studer allegedly came to the home and shot Tonya’s mother in the yard. Tonya was apparently on the phone with the police when she was shot. Tonya’s two children were in the home at the time of the murders. The couple had separated one month prior to the murders. Tonya had reportedly told a neighbor that her husband threatened to kill her if she left him.
Shanda Green – 34 Pontiac, MI
On March 28, police responded to a 911 call to Shanda Green’s apartment. They found her dead of strangulation allegedly from a phone cord. Shanda’s boyfriend, Timothy Smith, is on trial for her murder. Witnesses said that Smith had threatened to kill Shanda and that she was afraid of him. Shanda had left the state to get away from him. The couple had two children together.
Dawnette Marie Harrell – 29
Whitewater Township, MI
On April 2, Dawnette Harrell, who was 10 weeks pregnant, was last seen walking to her car in a parking lot near Traverse City. She was listed as missing for more than a year when her skeletal remains were discovered. On May 3, 2007, approximately 85 yards from the parents’ home of her boyfriend/co-worker, Justin Stair, Dawnette was found lying face down in a shallow grave. A forensic examination revealed that she died of a single gunshot to her forehead. State police arrested Stair on May 14, 2007, after a search of his parents’ house revealed traces of blood, Dawnette’s purse and car keys as well as an antique .32 revolver hidden in the ceiling tiles of the home. The revolver was later determined to match the single bullet recovered from Dawnette’s skull, Stair faces an open count of murder and a count of assault of a pregnant woman. Both counts carry life sentences.
Sharee Harris – 40 Southfield, MI
On April 10, police allege that Billy Ray Harris shot his wife, Sharee Harris, in the head and then called his mother to tell her he had shot Sharee. At the end of the call he said he was “just kidding.” He allegedly hung up and then shot himself. Sharee’s family said that the relationship was volatile and that Sharee had planned to leave her husband.
Catherine Holmes – 62 Okemos, MI
On October 20, customers of a credit union called police because they heard an argument and loud noises in the parking lot. Police found Catherine Holmes dead of a gunshot wound in her car. Her husband, Donald Holmes, is charged with her murder.
Rachel Johnson – 22
Nelda Grant – 50
Detroit, MI
On December 21, Nelda Grant came home and found her granddaughter, Rachel Johnson, dead. She called 911 and while she was on the phone, the alleged murderer, Donnell Ramon Johnson, also shot and killed her. Johnson is believed to be the boyfriend of Rachel who, according to friends, was trying to break off her relationship with him. Rachel’s 3-year-old daughter was home at the time of the shooting. Johnson is charged with two counts of first degree murder.
Lulja Kolbucaj – 39
Sterling Heights, MI
On March 31, police were called to the home of Lulja Kolbucaj. Her husband, Gjin Kolbucaj, allegedly had shot her to death and also had shot himself. He recovered from the suicide attempt and is charged with the first degree murder of Lulja. The couple has two children.
Kizzy R. Laury – 25 Saginaw, MI
On June 10, Kizzy Laury’s boyfriend, Alvin D. Frazier, allegedly beat her and then shot her to death. Kizzy and Frazier had two sons and she was pregnant with a third child at the time of the murder. Kizzy’s aunt stated that she believed Frazier killed Kizzy because she announced that she was leaving him. Frazier has been arrested and charged with the murder.
Ebony Lee – 24
Battle Creek, MI
On December 2, Ebony Lee was walking down a street near her home when her boyfriend, Arenza Hubbard, allegedly ran her over with his car, killing her. He fled the scene and a murder warrant for his arrest was filed.
Natasha Miller – 19
Milford, MI
On April 27, Natasha Miller agreed to take a ride with her ex-boyfriend, John Anderson. Anderson strangled Natasha, removed her clothing, and dragged her dead body into a river. Anderson’s lawyer reported that Anderson was “desperate to keep Natasha in his life.” Natasha was engaged to be married to another man. Anderson was convicted of second degree murder.
Dennis Mitchell – 46
Flint, MI
On September 6, Dennis Mitchell was with his girlfriend, Lisa Upchurch, when his cell phone rang and it was another woman. Upchurch allegedly pulled a gun and fired two shots into Dennis, killing him. Upchurch then got her teenage son and a friend of his to help her dump the body into the Flint River. Upchurch is charged with the murder.
Melissa Morgan – 20 Riverview, MI
On November 26, David Brown, Melissa Morgan’s ex-boyfriend, allegedly stabbed Melissa to death and seriously wounded her lover. Melissa and Brown had a 5-month-old daughter together and had separated about a month prior to the murder. Brown is charged with first degree murder and with assault with intent to murder.
Chad Patterson – 26
Flint, MI
On May 23, Chad Patterson’s parents found him in his living room dead of several knife wounds. Chad’s ex-girlfriend, Katrisha Pilon, and two other men have been charged with his murder. Chad and Pilon had one child together.
Vanessa Kay Pruitt – 18 Lansing, MI
On December 15, Vanessa Kay Pruitt was in her apartment with her sister whom she had asked to stay with her because she was afraid of her boyfriend, Jeffrey Scott Husband, from whom she had allegedly been trying to get away. Husband allegedly came to the apartment and shot and killed Vanessa as well as shooting her sister in the arm. Husband is charged with her murder. The couple have three small children and Vanessa was pregnant at the time of her murder.
Juanita L. Richardson – 43 McBain, MI
On June 22, Juanita L. Richardson and her husband, Thomas Richardson, were at a popular overlook on Lake Superior when Juanita plunged 140 feet to her death. Originally reported as an accidental fall, police now believe that Richardson killed his wife in hopes of collecting a life insurance policy. He is charged with her murder. Investigators learned that Richardson had physically and verbally abused his wife prior to the murder.
Erdelia Rogan –
New Haven, MI
On May 29, police allege that Erdelia Rogan’s husband, Robert Rogan, shot Erdelia twice with a shotgun and then called 911 to report the shooting. Robert Rogan is charged with the murder.
Holli Sharrow – 22
Fort Gratiot, MI
On December 12, Holli Sharrow died of wounds suffered on Nov. 25, when her boyfriend, Nicholas Kelly, allegedly beat her by slamming her into a wall in her apartment. Kelly is charged with open murder in the case.
Carolyn Sue Smith – 48 Eastpointe, MI
On December 29, police responded to a call at Carolyn Sue Smith’s home and found Carolyn and her sister critically wounded from multiple gunshot wounds. Carolyn died from her wounds. Her estranged husband, Jeffrey Smith, was the prime suspect in her murder. Two days later, police found Jeffrey Smith’s body in his car, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Smith had been arrested the previous week for assaulting Carolyn and had been released after posting bond. Carolyn had taken out a restraining order against him and was staying with her sister. The couple had two children.
Tanya Smith – 36
Lincoln Park, MI
On August 23, Tanya Smith was outside her apartment building when Marcus Underwood, with whom she had had a romantic relationship, shot and killed her. Underwood fled the scene on foot and was quickly surrounded by police. He then shot and killed himself.
Troy S. Sullivan – Mt. Morris Township, MI
On September 22, Troy Sullivan was allegedly attacked with a knife and a wrench by his girlfriend, Keta M. James. When James later returned to their apartment, she discovered that Troy was dead and called 911 and turned herself into the police. She is charged with his murder.
Barbara J. Tessman – 45 Washington Township, MI
On February 6, Danny Tessman allegedly shot his wife, Barbara J. Tessman, and then himself. Their teenage son was in the home at the time of the murder.
Unnamed Woman – 39 Sterling Heights, MI
On March 31, a man allegedly shot and killed his wife and then turned the gun on himself. When police arrived they found the woman dead. She had been shot several times. The man had a gunshot wound in his chest and he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Names were not released.
Vanessa Joyce Ward – 23 Oxford Township, MI
On April 8, police reported that Vanessa Joyce Ward was killed by her husband, Donald Fred Ward, who then turned the shotgun on himself in their Oxford Township home. A sheriff’s department representative stated, “They had apparently just started divorce proceedings.”
Marty J. Warren – 49
Grand Blanc, MI
On May 17, police found Marty J. Warren in a pool of blood in the basement of his home. A pathologist reported that he had 45-50 stab wounds. His alleged lover, James A. Rozier II, pleaded no contest to second degree murder.
Tina Sue Williams – 30 Clarkston, MI
On July 15, Tina Sue Williams’ mother could not reach her by phone so she called the police. Police arrived at Tina’s home in time to hear her husband pour gasoline on the home and ignite a fire. Tina was found inside the home dead of blunt force trauma. Her husband, James Mark Williams, is suspected of murdering her and was found dead in the fire. They had three children who were staying with Tina’s mother at the time of the murder/suicide.
2006 Michigan Domestic Violence Homicide List
Friends and Family Members Murdered
Marlon Gresham – 31 Chicago, IL
On June 6, Marlon Gresham was in the Muskegon Heights home of his girlfriend, Kayeda Hector, when the father of Kayeda’s 4 children, Rudolf McKinney, entered her home and allegedly shot Marlon five times at close range. Marlon died on the sidewalk in front of Kayeda’s house. Marlon was not armed at the time of the murder. Kayeda and McKinney allegedly had an on-again off-again romantic relationship. A warrant has been issued for McKinney’s arrest in connection with the murder.
Han Huang – 71
Troy, MI
On April 23, Han Huang heard his daughter and her husband arguing. The husband went upstairs in the home and returned with a semiautomatic gun. As he came down the stairs, the husband shot his wife and Han Huang several times before turning the gun on himself. The wife survived the shooting. Two children of the couple, ages 5 and 8, were in the home at the time of the murder as was Han Huang’s wife.
William Jedrzejek – 22 ClintonTownship, MI
William Jedrzejek was allegedly a bystander in the parking lot of a bar where he observed Edmond Dodaj get into a physical altercation with a woman who is allegedly Dodaj’s girlfriend. William was shot three times by Dodaj as he allegedly stepped in to break up the altercation between Dodaj and the girlfriend. William died from the gunshot wounds he received. The manager of the bar reported that it was a domestic dispute in the parking lot.
Kevin Robert Johnston – 34 Sheridan, MI
On September 21, Tammara Alexander’s estranged husband, Gregory Alexander, called her. Alexander was waiting outside the home where she was living with her boyfriend, Kevin Robert Johnson. When Kevin returned from work, Alexander shot Kevin repeatedly, killing him. Alexander then phoned his estranged wife shortly after the killing and said he planned to also kill himself, which he did. Police found his body outside his vehicle one half mile from the scene of the shooting. Police confirmed that Tammara had recently filed for a divorce from Alexander and had filed a PPO against him.
Adolph Little – 43
Grand Rapids, MI
On March 15, Adolph Little was allegedly stabbed to death outside his apartment by his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, Alan Lee Thompson. The girlfriend testified in court that Thompson had called several times the previous day threatening to kill Adolph. Thompson is charged with the murder.
George Turner III – 33
James Ketchens – 40 Jackson, MI
On December 23, Anthony Dixon allegedly came to a home where his ex-wife was visiting with relatives. He had a handgun and a pistol with him. James Ketchens (brother of ex-wife) was apparently trying to protect people inside the home when Dixon shot and killed him. Dixon also allegedly shot and killed George Turner III, who was at the home and was the boyfriend of Dixon’s ex-wife. Dixon then turned the gun on himself. Eight children were left fatherless in the murder spree.
Martha Wallace – 45 Lyon Township, MI
Martha Wallace’s daughter and granddaughter were living with her when the daughter’s boyfriend, Christopher A. Lucas, reportedly got into a fight with Martha. Lucas allegedly punched and kicked Martha, then jumped on her head leaving shoe prints on her face. Martha died from the beating and Lucas was convicted of second degree murder. Lucas had prior convictions for stalking, harassing and threatening to kill a former girlfriend.
Rosetta Williams – 38
Alari Davis – 54
Detroit, MI
On February 26, Rosetta Williams was sitting in the balcony of her church just as the service was about to begin. Her daughter’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin Collins, was waiting in the balcony where he approached Rosetta and demanded to know where his girlfriend was. Rosetta would not tell him. Collins began to leave the balcony and then swung around with a sawed off shotgun which he began firing. He shot Rosetta four times, killing her. He also wounded a 9-year-old girl sitting next to Rosetta. He fired at another man in the balcony who tried to grab him. Then he allegedly fired in the general direction of the pulpit before fleeing the church. Collins then left the church and went outside where he attempted to car-jack a car from a woman on the street. The woman’s husband, Alari Davis, attempted to interrupt the carjacking and was shot by Collins. Alari later died as a result of the shooting. Collins then fled to the back of a home where police cornered him. He pointed the gun at police and then he shot and killed himself. Collins girlfriend had been severely assaulted in the same church by him three weeks earlier. His girlfriend went to the police and filed a report saying she wanted him arrested. Police allegedly told her they would pursue the case. The case was never brought to the prosecutor’s office and Collins was not arrested. Relatives stated that Collins was angry because his girlfriend refused to marry him.
2006 Michigan Domestic Violence Homicide List
Possible/Probable domestic violence homicides
Included on this list are six additional homicides that were likely domestic-related but there was not sufficient information in the newspaper coverage to be certain.
Brenda Henry – 42
Capac, MI
On November 18, Brenda’s body was found in a field near the location of a party she had been attending the previous night with her ex-husband. Capac police had responded to four or five domestic incidents involving Brenda and her ex-husband. Her ex-husband had also served 18 months for stabbing her with a two-pronged fork in 2003. Her ex-husband (whose name was not given) has been questioned and released by police.
Dolores “Dee” Lubaczewski – 60 Bay City, Michigan
On November 27, Dolores Lubaczewski was allegedly bludgeoned to death by a co-worker who had a romantic interest in her, which she did not return. Police found Dolores dead in her home. The co-worker, Howard Brown, is accused of beating her to death with a metal pipe.
Amy Martin – 21
Mt. Morris, MI
On March 16, Amy Martin and her husband, Patrick O. Martin, had stopped at a rest area along a freeway and Amy had demanded to be let out of the couple’s van. Martin sped off in the van allegedly failing to notice that Amy had caught her jacket on the door and was being pulled along the vehicle and likely run over by it. Martin pleaded no contest to a charge of negligent homicide.
Unnamed Woman – 52 Newkirk Township, MI
On December 31, police were sent to a residence where they found the bodies of a 52-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man. Police have called it an apparent murder suicide. No other details were available at the time of the article.
Vincent Vanconis – 49 Hamlin Township, MI
On July 28, Vincent Vanconis’ body was found inside his home along with the body of his wife, Stephanie K. Vanconis. Police speculate that Stephanie shot Vincent and then herself. There was no history of domestic violence and an investigation is ongoing.
Perpetrator Suicides
Rodney Johnson – Dearborn Heights, MI
On January 22, a 2-year-old child ran crying from her house into the arms of a police officer. Her father, Rodney Johnson, had allegedly just shot her mother four times in the back as she tried to flee her home. Johnson then barricaded himself in the home and eventually shot himself as police tried to negotiate with him. The child’s mother was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
For more information read “Breaking the Silence” on Page 1.
