NEWS

Lansing man, woman charged in 'brutal murder'

Ken Palmer, and Matt Mencarini
Lansing

CHARLOTTE - A Lansing man and woman have been charged with murder in the death of an elderly Delta Township man earlier this month. Police called it "a targeted crime and not a random act."

Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd speak at a press conference Monday, July 25, 2016, following the arraignment of Andrew Mack Johnson Jr., and Dymond Leana Squires. Johnson and Squires are charged with homicide in the death of John Abraham.

Dymond Leana Squires, 25, and Andrew Mack Johnson Jr., 26, were arraigned Monday afternoon in Eaton County District Court on charges of felony murder and breaking into a safe. They face up to life in prison if convicted.

They are accused of murdering John Abraham, 78, during a robbery or larceny at his home in the 4000 block of Oakcrest Drive. A family member found Abraham injured and unresponsive on the night of July 5, according to the Eaton County Sheriff's Office, which opened a homicide investigation.

The medical examiner determined Abraham suffered blunt force trauma to the head, and neck injuries caused by a knife, Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich said during a news conference Monday. The suspects broke into a safe inside his home and took cash, he said.

"The investigation has now determined that Mr. Abraham had a connection to at least one of the suspects and that this was a targeted crime and not a random act," Reich said.

Dymond Leana Squires

Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd asked for a $10 million bond for both defendants, calling Abraham's death "a brutal murder." Felony murder carries mandatory life in prison without parole upon conviction, and there's a high risk that the defendants might flee if released, he said.

Eaton County District Court Judge Julie Reincke granted his request, setting a $10 million cash bond for both.

Court records indicate Squires and Johnson have the same address. Neither has a criminal record, according to statements made in court. Squires told Riencke she has a 7-year-old daughter and wouldn't leave town if she were released on bond.

The Sheriff's Office had previously said only that  Abraham had "apparent recent injuries" when he was found by a relative. On Monday, Reich and Lloyd declined to say how many times he was hit or stabbed.

Reich said detectives "worked tirelessly" to identify the suspects and gather evidence. They obtained a search warrant on July 21 and executed a search with the help of Lansing police, he said. Squires and Johnson were arrested early on Friday, he said.

Andrew Mack Johnson Jr.

The Delta Township case was the second killing of a man in his home in the Lansing area in less than a year. In August of last year, Jeffrey Kebler, 62, was stabbed and choked by suspects who entered his Eagle Township home while he was sleeping. Four people have been convicted on charges stemming from that incident, which authorities have characterized as random.

The July 5 incident was different in that regard, authorities said.

"We believe it was not random, and there is no need for concern for the community that there is an individual out there who is perpetrating other crimes," Lloyd said.

Riencke appointed attorneys for both defendants, neither of whom could be reached immediately by the State Journal.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 8. It will determine if there's enough evidence for Squires and Johnson to stand trial.

Eaton County investigating Delta Twp. man's death as homicide

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini. Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.