Articles Posted in Murder

In October of last year, 51-year-old Tewanna Sullivan and 66-year-old Cheryl Livy became involved in an argument over presidential politics. In the end, Sullivan allegedly killed Livy using a slow cooker; she allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .41, according to a news article at Mlive.com. This level is more than five times the legal driving limit of .08 percent in Michigan.

The incident occurred in a HUD housing high-rise in Livonia. The two women were close friends, according to Sullivan’s godfather, Marvin Jones who said the two women were “tight.” Sullivan’s attorney said that his client suffered mental issues which are possibly related to surgeries she had undergone in 2009 for a brain aneurysm. Sullivan was initially charged with first-degree premeditated murder, however the prosecutor’s office agreed to dismiss the charge in exchange for Sullivan’s guilty plea. Had Sullivan gone to trial on first-degree premeditated murder charges and been convicted, she would have faced automatic life in prison.

A news article at Click on Detroit stated that Sullivan struck Livy in the head repeatedly with the slow cooker until the victim became unconscious. She was transported to the hospital and pronounced brain dead when her family decided to take her off life support.

On Friday October 31, two individuals were arraigned in the October 27 shooting death of 76-year-old Kenneth LaBita, a longtime Plymouth Township resident. LaBita was found inside his home just east of Haggerty on the evening of the 27th; he had been shot to death, according to police.

A news article at the Detroit Free Press claims that LaBita had lived in the home for approximately 40 years. His body was discovered when officers were dispatched to the home to check on his welfare. LaBita was discovered lying on the floor, a gunshot wound to his head.

In the first days, investigators had no leads in the case. According to Tom Tiderington, Plymouth Township Police Chief, detectives began working around the clock to make progress in the case. Tips from both the public and other law enforcement agencies, along with telephone records, led authorities to one of the suspects, 22-year-old Andrew Nutt of Westland. Another individual, 19-year-old Miriah Pisarski of Wayne, has also been charged in the case. Both are charged with felony murder, first-degree premeditated murder, larceny, and using a gun during a felony.

Earlier this week, a Wayne man was charged in the September 4 homicide of a Bloomfield Township resident. Bart Mitchell Spencer, a 45-year-old handyman, is suspected of murdering 77-year-old William Whitelaw. According to news reports at the Detroit Free Press, Spencer has an extensive criminal record.

At the time of news reports, an arraignment date and time could not be set as Spencer had allegedly violated his parole and was in custody of federal authorities. While several individuals were arrested in connection with Whitelaw’s death, Spencer is the only one charged in the homicide as authorities believe he carried out the murder alone.

According to the news article, Spencer did work for several residents who lived in the condo complex where Whitelaw lived. He had also done work for the victim, and was well-known in the complex. On the evening of September 4, authorities were dispatched to the victim’s condo after Whitelaw’s son called 911 and reported a deceased person.