Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
D’Andre Lane was convicted on child abuse and first-degree murder charges on October 12 after being found guilty by a jury of slaying his 2-year-old daughter. On Monday, December 3, Lane will be sentenced to life in prison without parole by Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans.
The crime took place in December of 2011, when the Detroit father faked a carjacking after allegedly killing his daughter, Bianca. News reports state that Lane claimed his vehicle was taken at gunpoint in Detroit’s North End neighborhood as Bianca sat in the back seat of the car. Police located the vehicle within an hour, but Bianca was nowhere to be found. Her body has not been found to this day.
Prosecutors alleged during Lane’s trial that he had used a stick wrapped in a towel to beat Bianca to death. He then disposed of the body, according to prosecutors, and attempted to cover it all up with the story about the carjacking. Prosecutors claimed that Lane murdered his daughter basically because she wet herself, and he believed physical punishment was necessary when toddlers have accidents.
During the trial, a cadaver-sniffing dog handler testified that the dog had detected the smell of a body both in Bianca’s bedroom at the home and in Lane’s car. Terry Johnson, Lane’s defense attorney, said that the guilty verdict came as a shock because of the lack of physical evidence. According to Johnson, prosecutors uncovered no physical evidence during the course of the investigation.
As of next week, Lane will live the rest of his life behind prison bars.
As Michigan homicide defense attorneys, we realize that while the majority of individuals locked away in prison for committing heinous crimes are guilty, there are many innocent people who lose their freedom, reputation and future. When an innocent person is incarcerated for life, it is a true tragedy – yet it happens.
If you or a loved one have been accused of or charged with first-degree murder or any violent crime, it is important that you seek legal guidance right away to protect your legal rights and freedom. Consult with an experienced and aggressive Michigan criminal defense lawyer with a reputation and track record for winning.