MI MI- Karen Marie Umphrey, 21, fatally shot, Beards Hills, 2 Nov. 1980, Identified by DNA, 2023, 2 arrests, Douglas Laming and Anthony Harris

[dotr]

Ken Haddad, December 18, 2023 rbbm

Arrest made in 1980 St. Clair County cold case murder

After more than 40 years, a murder case in St. Clair County might finally be closed.

www.clickondetroit.com

Douglas Laming of Fort Gratiot (St. Clair County Sheriff)
''PORT HURON, Mich. – After more than 40 years, a murder case in St. Clair County might finally be closed.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office said it made an arrest last week in a murder case that has been unsolved since 1980. Detectives arrested 70-year-old Douglas Laming of Fort Gratiot in connection with the murder of Karen Umphrey.''

''Umphrey, 21 years old, was found dead in the State Game Area in Beards Hills on the morning of November 2, 1980.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office said they’ve been working for the last year on a break in the case, and advancements in DNA testing helped lead to a match.

“Working with the Michigan State Police and Othram, a company specializing in forensic genetic geneology, information was uncovered that previously would have been impossible to find.''

• 2008
• 

  Area has its share of unsolved murders

  Area has its share of unsolved murders

  www.thetimesherald.com
• ''Nov. 2, 1980:Karen Marie Umphrey, 21, of Smiths Creek, while driving back from a party between 12:30 and 2:30 a.m., has an argument with her boyfriend, Fred Hill. Near the 10th Street Bridge in Port Huron, Hill gets out of the car and begins walking home. Umphrey parks the car at 10th and Varney streets and follows on foot. At 3:30 a.m., a motorist calls Port Huron police and reports seeing a woman being forced into a pickup truck in the vicinity of Umphrey's parked car. Hunters walking the area of Abbottsford Road at the State Game Area in Clyde Township find Umphrey's body about 600 feet from the road. She had been shot in the head.''

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

St. Clair County man charged in 1980 cold case

Douglas Laming was arraigned Sunday.

www.detroitnews.com

A St. Clair County man has been charged in a woman's death more than 40 years ago, officials announced Monday.

Douglas Laming, 70, of Fort Gratiot was arrested around 3 p.m. Friday, in connection with the murder of Karen Umphrey, the St. Clair County's Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The 21-year-old was found dead in the State Game Area in Beards Hills on the morning of Nov. 2, 1980, according to the release...

 

[dotr]

After 43 years, Karen Umphrey's Killer has been Identified

Michigan State Police & St. Clair Sheriff's Department Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 1980 Murder of Karen Umphrey

dnasolves.com

rbbm
''In November 1980, 21-year-old Karen Umphrey was found murdered in the State Game Area of Beards Hills, Michigan near Port Huron. Port Huron is the county seat of St. Clair County. The identity of the person responsible for Karen’s death was not known and despite investigators attempts to identify the killer, the case went cold. For more than four decades, investigators continued their pursuit to identify the person responsible for Karen’s death.''

''In 2022, the Michigan State Police submitted forensic DNA evidence from the crime scene to Othram. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile from the DNA of the unknown contributor that was discovered at the crime scene in 1980. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the genealogical profile to produce investigative leads. Othram returned the investigative leads to the Michigan State Police and they worked with St. Clair County Sheriff Department investigators to continue the investigation''.

''County Sheriff’s Office detectives spoke to many people that were connected to the victim or the suspect in the 1980s, gathering information, and making vital connections. This follow up investigation led to the identification of Douglas Laming as the suspect in Karen’s murder. Laming is now 70 years-old and from Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Laming was arrested on December 15, 2023 and has been charged with first-degree murder, punishable with up to life in prison. He was arraigned Sunday, December 17, 2023 and is expected to appear in court for a probable cause conference on December 26, 2023.
The case is ongoing and we will update this story as more information becomes available.''

 

[gypsymel]

After 43 years, Karen Umphrey's Killer has been Identified

Michigan State Police & St. Clair Sheriff's Department Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 1980 Murder of Karen Umphrey

dnasolves.com

rbbm
''In November 1980, 21-year-old Karen Umphrey was found murdered in the State Game Area of Beards Hills, Michigan near Port Huron. Port Huron is the county seat of St. Clair County. The identity of the person responsible for Karen’s death was not known and despite investigators attempts to identify the killer, the case went cold. For more than four decades, investigators continued their pursuit to identify the person responsible for Karen’s death.''

''In 2022, the Michigan State Police submitted forensic DNA evidence from the crime scene to Othram. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile from the DNA of the unknown contributor that was discovered at the crime scene in 1980. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the genealogical profile to produce investigative leads. Othram returned the investigative leads to the Michigan State Police and they worked with St. Clair County Sheriff Department investigators to continue the investigation''.

''County Sheriff’s Office detectives spoke to many people who were connected to the victim or the suspect in the 1980s, gathering information and making vital connections. This follow-up investigation led to the identification of Douglas Laming as the suspect in Karen’s murder. Laming is now 70 years-old and from Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Laming was arrested on December 15, 2023 and has been charged with first-degree murder, punishable with up to life in prison. He was arraigned Sunday, December 17, 2023 and is expected to appear in court for a probable cause conference on December 26, 2023.
The case is ongoing and we will update this story as more information becomes available.''

The probable cause conference was rescheduled for earlier this week. I

After 43 years, Karen Umphrey's Killer has been Identified

Michigan State Police & St. Clair Sheriff's Department Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 1980 Murder of Karen Umphrey

dnasolves.com

rbbm
''In November 1980, 21-year-old Karen Umphrey was found murdered in the State Game Area of Beards Hills, Michigan near Port Huron. Port Huron is the county seat of St. Clair County. The identity of the person responsible for Karen’s death was not known and despite investigators attempts to identify the killer, the case went cold. For more than four decades, investigators continued their pursuit to identify the person responsible for Karen’s death.''

''In 2022, the Michigan State Police submitted forensic DNA evidence from the crime scene to Othram. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive genealogical profile from the DNA of the unknown contributor that was discovered at the crime scene in 1980. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the genealogical profile to produce investigative leads. Othram returned the investigative leads to the Michigan State Police and they worked with St. Clair County Sheriff Department investigators to continue the investigation''.

''County Sheriff’s Office detectives spoke to many people that were connected to the victim or the suspect in the 1980s, gathering information, and making vital connections. This follow up investigation led to the identification of Douglas Laming as the suspect in Karen’s murder. Laming is now 70 years-old and from Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Laming was arrested on December 15, 2023 and has been charged with first-degree murder, punishable with up to life in prison. He was arraigned Sunday, December 17, 2023 and is expected to appear in court for a probable cause conference on December 26, 2023.
The case is ongoing and we will update this story as more information becomes available.''

I know the probable cause conference was rescheduled for January 2nd. Do you know the outcome or where I might find the probable cause affidavit?

 

[EllaMinnowP]

Hearing in 1980 slaying case delayed until after New Year's

Douglas Laming's attorney said he needed more time to examine the evidence in the 43-year-old case.

www.thetimesherald.com

…

Laming, 70, of Fort Gratiot, appeared via Zoom with his attorney, St. Clair County Assistant Chief Public Defender Frederick Lepley, to request the hearing be delayed until after New Year's Eve.

Lepley told Judge Russell Etheridge, who was filling in for District Judge Mona Armstrong, that he had received all of the discovery from the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office except for a few photographs the prosecution recently received.
…

Both Etheridge and the prosecution agreed the case should be delayed. Etheridge set a tentative probable cause conference for 9 a.m. Jan. 2.

…

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office has refused to discuss the probable cause affidavit.

…

Laming's charge has also been amended from first-degree murder to open murder, a charge that would allow a jury to pick between first and second-degree murder if the case goes to trial.


@gypsymel, This was the most recent article that I could find. It was thanks to your post that I went looking for it. Since the article says that the conference was tentatively scheduled for January 2, I’m not sure whether it actually took place. I’m not good at accessing court records, but I know we have so many members here who are. Hopefully someone will look into it and share any updates.

As an aside, I’m intrigued that the charge has been changed to “open murder”, letting the jury whether they believe it’s first degree murder or second degree murder. It’s my first time seeing that done in a case I was watching.

MOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A Second Suspect in Karen Umphrey's Murder is Identified

Michigan State Police & St. Clair Sheriff's Department Team with Othram to Identify an Additional Suspect in the 1980 Murder of Karen Umphrey

dnasolves.com

 

[dotr]

A Second Suspect in Karen Umphrey's Murder is Identified

Michigan State Police & St. Clair Sheriff's Department Team with Othram to Identify an Additional Suspect in the 1980 Murder of Karen Umphrey

dnasolves.com

Wow, that was a surprise, from link ty..

''At the time, it was not publicly announced that DNA belonging to another contributor was discovered at the crime scene.

"In 2023, the Michigan State Police submitted the additional forensic DNA evidence from the 1980 crime scene to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. A second DNA profile belonging to the second unknown suspect was developed using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the genealogical profile to produce new investigative leads. The leads were returned to the Michigan State Police who continued their investigative work with St. Clair County Sheriff Department officials to identify the second suspect in the murder of Karen Umphrey. This follow up investigation led to the identification of 63-year-old Anthony Harris.

Harris was arrested on February 6, 2024 . On February 7, 2024, Harris was arraigned and charged with open murder in Port Huron's 72nd District Court for his alleged involvement in the death of Karen Umphrey. Harris' bond was set at $2,000,000.''

 

[dotr]

Johnathan Hogan Feb 21 2024 rbbm

Case delayed for first suspect charged in 1980 cold case

Douglas Laming's codefendant, Anthony Harris, is still proceeding through district court.

www.thetimesherald.com

'St. Clair County Assistant Chief Public Defender Frederick Lepley requested the delay during a pretrial hearing Tuesday, saying he would like to see the result of a preliminary exam for Anthony Harris, Laming's codefendant, before proceeding.''

''Laming's next court appearance was set for April 1. Harris' preliminary examination is scheduled for March 6.
If convicted, Laming and Harris both face up to life in prison.''