SPORTS: Lapeer East, West fall in district semis 1-B BUSINESS: Suski to open Lapeer dealership 5-A
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Stepmom guilty in murder of Lapeer girl Renee King charged in death of Lily Furneaux
Child Advocacy Center one of few in state combating abuse death,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith. Six months earlier in Genesee County’s Argentine Township 4-yearLAPEER — Last old Dominick year the Lapeer Calhoun was torCounty Prosecutor’s tured and beaten to office investigated death by his mothabout 40 child abuse er’s boyfriend. The a neglect cases and boyfriend, Brandon the office issued 25 Hayes, 28, was warrants for criminal found guilty in and sexual abuse. January of a launSo far this year the dry list of charges Child Advocacy ranging from first Center Of Lapeer has degree murder to interviewed 50 child abuse. alleged abuse victims. Dominick’s Deborah Pascoe, the mother, Corrine center’s executive Baker, who was on director, said it’s not Lily Furneauxso much a case of Wolfenbarger, 2, of Lapeer, probation for an increased abuse as it was killed in 2010 by Renee earlier drug conviction at the time of is increased awareKing (right). Dominck’s death, is ness. doing time for a In November 2010, probation violation. 2-year-old Lily Lynette FurneauxDominick’s grandparents havWolfenbarger was one of six chiling been pushing for a new law dren to die in Macomb County. “2010 was a terrible year for child SEE ADVOCACY, PAGE 12A BY PHIL FOLEY 810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com
BY PHIL FOLEY 810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com
MOUNT CLEMENS — Eight women and six men spent two-and-a-half weeks listening to witnesses recount the final hours of Lily Lynette FurneauxWolfenbarger’s life before taking less than two hours Monday to decide that Renee King, 29, was guilty of murder, criminal sexual conduct and child abuse. Lily’s grandmother, Lynette, said her family is “ecstatic” over the verdict and Photo provided vowed that “Justice for Lily is not over.” Renee King was convicted Lily, a smiling 2Monday of murder and year-old with straw- criminal sexual conduct. berry blond hair, was found dead in her father’s mobile home in New Haven, a community of 3,000 in northern Macomb County, the night of Nov. 20, 2010.
INSIDE County voters favored Santorum in Tuesday primary See Page 3A
LCS closes Maple Grove Elementary See Page 6A
Hearing changed in Marie Warren murder case See Page 6A
SEE MURDER, PAGE 12A
$500,000 bond set for Grondin Accused of killing girlfriend, suspect, 19, remains held in jail BY PHIL FOLEY 810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com
Photo by Jeff Hogan
Imlay City Police Dept. Chief John Stano talks to one of his officers outside the Talmer Bank & Trust office on Van Dyke in Imlay City (across from Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds). The bank was robbed Friday morning.
Gunman holds up Talmer Bank in Imlay City BY PHIL FOLEY 810-452-2616 • pfoley@mihomepaper.com
IMLAY CITY — Imlay City Police are hunting for a gunman who robbed the Talmer Bank & Trust office on the 700 block of South Cedar Street at 10:40 a.m. Friday. At press time details were still
sketchy and police were declining to say how much the man got away with. Chief John Stano, said a white man in his 20s with a medium build and brown hair, armed with a handgun, handed a bank teller a note demanding money. He said the teller handed the man some money and he left. Based on video evidence, Stano
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said the suspect is believed to have driven off in a four-door black or dark blue car, possibly a Chevrolet Malibu, that was heavily covered with dirt up to the door handles. However, shortly after the robbery, police were looking for several different cars. At one point, believing the man SEE ROBBERY, PAGE 6A
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LAPEER — After more than three months in the Lapeer County Jail, Kenneth C. Grondin III could see something other than cinder block a soon as next week. Accused of killing his girlfriend, 20-year-old Andrea Lorraine Eilber, Nov. 14 in the basement of her aunt’s Kings Mill Road home in Mayfield Township, Grondin has been held by police since Nov. 16. Wednesday morning Circuit Court Judge Nick Holowka set bond for Grondin at $500,000. Barring any other motions, Grondin is now set to go on trail at 9
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a.m. July 10 on an charge of open murder. It will be left for a jury to decide his guilt, if any, on everything from manslaughter up to first-degree murder. Conviction could result in sentences from 15 years up to life without parole. Grondin is due back in court at 9 a.m. March 30 for what are known as Walker and Bender motion hearings. Based on a 1965 court case, a Walker hearing focuses on whether a suspect was properly advised of his Miranda rights and whether statements made by the defendent were voluntarily and SEE GRONDIN, PAGE 12A
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