10 Famous Murders in Michigan

Police blue light. Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay

10 Famous Murders in Michigan

Michigan, a state located in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States is renowned for several things. It has a population of nearly 10.12 million making it the 10^th-largest state population. The capital of Michigan is Lansing with the largest city being Detroit.

With its huge population, comes several controversies involving the people living within the state. Several murders and homicides have been recorded in Michigan over the years. Some of these murders have gone unsolved making the victims seek justice continuously.

Also, Read on 10 Famous Murders in North Carolina.

Here are the 10 Famous Murders in Michigan:

1. The Murder of the DeLisle Children

Police Car Behind Barricade Tapes. Photo by Cottonbro Studios on Pexels

Shortly after 9 pm on 3^rd August 1989, one of the famous Michigan murders took place. The DeLisle had gone to town to buy some stuff in their station wagon.

Lawrence DeLisle, his wife, and four children were heading back home when their family station wagon crashed into Detroit River in Wyandotte, Michigan. DeLisle and his wife managed to get out of the wreck while the four children remained in the sinking vehicle.

They were pulled out of the wreckage and pronounced dead. DeLisle and his wife were arrested. He confessed to the interrogating officers but later revealed that he was forced into confessing to the murders.

Lawrence DeLisle was later convicted of five lifetimes without parole while his wife divorced him and remarried. He is still incarcerated at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan.

2. The Royal Oak Post Office Shootings and Murder

On 14^th November 1991, there was a very unfortunate incident that happened in Michigan. A disgruntled former postal worker who was identified as Thomas McIlvane shot and killed four post office employees.

Thomas was a former Marine who was dismissed from duty due to an incident he was involved in. He was employed by the Royal Oak Post Office where his character never changed and led to his second dismissal from work.

Thomas decided to launch a complaint over the dismissal and even went ahead to swear about blowing up the post office and killing the manager. At around 8:45 am on 14^th November 1991, Thomas walked through the door of Royal Oak Post Office.

He was armed with a semi-automatic 22-caliber Ruger carbine rifle which he used to open fire. Thomas shot and killed four employees, injured another four, and killed himself with the same gun.

3. Seth Privacky Murder

Person Taking Photo of the Evidence. Photo by Cottonbro Studio on Pexels

The murder of Seth Privacky might not be among the usual one which involves an assailant, but it is ranked among the most famous murders in Michigan. Seth Privacky was a mass murderer who had killed his parents, brother, his brother’s girlfriend, and grandfather by shooting.

He was later arrested and convicted on five counts of murder and firearm charges at the age of 18. Seth was convicted at Kinross Correctional Facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where he was murdered.

On 15^th July 2010, Seth attempted to escape from prison with two other inmates. The two others were overpowered, but Seth Privacky was shot dead as he was trying to escape.

4. The 2011 Grand Rapids Killings

On 7^th July 2011, a certain gunman shocked many as he killed seven people and wounded others in what was a deadly killing spree in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These deaths took place in two homes with two other non-fatal gunshot injuries taking place on the road.

The suspected killer was identified as a man who had a previous history of multiple killings which earned him several years behind bars. The victims of the 2011 Grand Rapids Killings included Dantzler’s estranged wife, their daughter, his former girlfriend, and members of other victims’ families.

The gunman later killed himself after taking hostages in a house after a botched escape plan from police officers. Initially, the weapon used was reported to be a handgun, but it was later identified as a 9mm Glock Model 19 pistol.

5. Murders of Jourdan Bobbish and Jacob Kudla

An ongoing investigation. Photo by Cottonbro Studio on Pexels

Two white American teenagers, Jourdan Bobbish and Jacob Kudla were tortured and murdered in Detroit. They were murdered by Fredrick Young and Felando Hunter who were two black males.

Jacob was 18 years at that time and a student at Schoolcraft college while Jourdan was 17 and a high school senior. The two were reported missing, an area-wide search was conducted which led to the discovery of their bodies.

During court trials of the two assailants, a witness revealed that he heard the two pleading for their lives but were killed. Fredrick and Felando were sentenced to life in prison without an option for parole.

Read on 10 Famous Murders in Tennessee.

6. The 2016 Kalamazoo Shootings

On 20^th February 2016, there was a series of random Shootings that took place at an apartment complex, a car dealership, and outside a restaurant in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. During this famous incident in Michigan history, six people were killed and 2 got injured.

A 45-year-old Uber driver identified as Jason Brian Dalton was arrested over the Kalamazoo Shootings. The first shooting took place at a Richland Township apartment where a woman was shot but did not die.

The shooter left the first scene, went to his home, and ferried some Uber customers thereafter arrived at the Kia dealership. At the dealership, the suspect approached two men, a father, and the boyfriend of a witness whom he asked a question.

Before they answered, he fired at the two men with approximately 17 rounds fatally striking and killing them. Ten minutes later, the third shooting took place outside a Cracker Barrel restaurant.

Four people in two vehicles were killed and 1 wounded. He was later arrested, and a shotgun, bulletproof vest, and jacket were discovered on him.

7. Joseph Courthouse Shootings and Murders

People Standing on the Crime Scene. Photo by Cottonbro Studio on Pexels

On 11^th July 2016, an inmate identified as Larry Darnell Gordon opened fire and killed two bailiffs from the 3^rd floor of the Berrien County Courthouse in St Joseph, Michigan. The inmate had been restrained in the front rather than in the back as he was being held for multiple charges.

However, as he was being escorted, he attacked the deputy Sheriff and shot at the two bailiffs killing them. Gordon did not manage to escape after his actions as he was also shot and killed.

8. The 2018 Central Michigan University Shootings and Murders

On 2^nd March 2018, a gunman fatally shot two people believed to be parents at a Central Michigan University residence. 19 years old James E. Davis Jr was believed to have been armed and committed the murders of his parents.

James murdered James E. Davis Sr. and his mother Diva J. Davis. The two had arrived at the University to take him home for spring break before he murdered them.

9. Oxford High School Shooting

A Man in Black Police Uniform. Photo by Ricardo Martinez on Pexels

On 30^th November 2021, there was a mass shooting that occurred at Oxford High School in Detroit, Michigan. A 15 years old boy identified as Ethan Crumbley was seen on surveillance cameras coming from a bathroom armed with a semi-automatic 9 mm handgun.

Walking through the hallway as other students were switching classes, Ethan opened fire indiscriminately murdering 4 students and injuring 7 others. The panic from the school fraternity made the teachers and other students lock themselves in the havoc.

Ethan was later arrested by the authorities and brought to court. He was charged as an adult with 24 crimes which included murder and terrorism.

10. 2022 Detroit Shootings

On 28th August, a 19 years old man allegedly shot randomly and killed three people in Detroit, Michigan, United States. At around 4:45 am, the 19 years old fired his gun, shot at a 28-year-old, and murdered him.

30 minutes later after police responded to a distress call, gunshots were heard and a 44-year-old woman was found shot and dead. At around 5:30 am, a 16-year-old girl was also shot and killed.

About an hour and a half later, the fourth person was shot at but he survived. The suspect, Dontae Smith was arrested and charged with the murder but his family defended him by stating he was suffering from hallucinations.

Also, read 10 Famous Murders In South Carolina.