GUILTY MI - Sheila Bonge, 59, Crockery Township, 25 Dec 2017

[Niner]

from the court site - so I guess it's a go, but no updates on "what" happened yesterday. Anyone?? TIA!

10/10/18:
Time Name Case Number Hearing Type Location
09:00 AM POPEJOY, WENDELL 18-041803-FC JURY TRIAL CONTINUATION Grand Haven
Judge Miedema

link: miOttawa - Ottawa County, Michigan

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, October 10th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9am ET) – MI – Sheila Bonge (59) (Dec. 26, 2017) – Wendell Earl Popejoy (63) charged with open murder & using a firearm in commission of a felony. Plead not guilty. No bond; confessed to shooting.
Trial was to start June 5-6, 2018 by Judge. Ware retained a new attorney, trial delayed.
2/5/18 Update: Judge entered “not guilty plea”. Defendant retains new attorney, trial delayed.
9/21/18 Update: Walker hearing today 9/21 – Judge Miedema. Walker hearing: an evidentiary hearing to determine the voluntariness of the defendant’s statement; common allegations are the defendant was coerced, drunk, intimidated, retarded, etc.
9/21/18 Update: Trial starts 10/9.
10/9/18 Update Day 1: No update as of 10/10, but trial still on going per court site for 10/10.

 

[Niner]

Surprised - I got some google alert articles on this case!

Popejoy murder trial hinges on premeditation

Oct. 9, 2018
It’s not a question of whether or not Wendell Earl Popejoy murdered his neighbor; it’s whether or not he did it with premeditation.

That’s what attorneys will argue and attempt to prove during the 64-year-old Coopersville man’s trial that started Tuesday in Ottawa County Circuit Court.
[.....]
Both Ottawa County Prosecutor Ron Frantz and defense attorney Jeffrey Kortes highlighted the conflict between the neighbors during their opening statements and in their questions of the three witnesses who took the stand Tuesday.
[.....]
Frantz told jurors there would be 20 witnesses for the prosecution and that they would listen to several versions of Popejoy’s confession.

Judge Karen Miedema said it was likely the trial could extend into next week.

 

[Niner]

Watch Live: Wendell Earl Popejoy Murder Trial

 

[Niner]

Thursday, October 11th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 8:30am ET) – MI – Sheila Bonge (59) (Dec. 26, 2017, Crockery Township) – Wendell Earl Popejoy (63) charged with “open murder” & using a firearm in commission of a felony. Plead not guilty. No bond; confessed to shooting.
Trial was to start June 5-6, 2018 by Judge. Ware retained a new attorney, trial delayed.
2/5/18 Update: Judge entered “not guilty plea”. Defendant retains new attorney, trial delayed.
9/21/18 Update: Walker hearing today 9/21 – Judge Miedema. Walker hearing: an evidentiary hearing to determine the voluntariness of the defendant’s statement; common allegations are the defendant was coerced, drunk, intimidated, retarded, etc.
9/21/18 Update: Trial starts 10/9.
10/9/18 Update Day 1: Jury Selected. Opening statements. Witnesses: Mark Meurer (neighbor) & Beth Meurer (neighbor) & Wayne Holman (fiancé). DA Frantz told jurors there would be 20 witnesses for the prosecution & that they would listen to several versions of Popejoy’s confession. Judge Karen Miedema said it was likely the trial could extend into next week. Popejoy is charged with open murder, so the jury could convict him of either first- or second-degree murder.
10/10/18 Update Day 2: Will get info later.


per court site:
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Time Name Case Number Hearing Type Location
09:00 AM POPEJOY, WENDELL 18-041803-FC JURY TRIAL CONTINUATION

link: miOttawa - Ottawa County, Michigan

 

[Niner]

Detectives testify at Popejoy murder trial

During Wednesday’s testimony, police detectives described the extreme cold and snowy conditions they encountered while searching for the 59-year-old Crockery Township woman Dec. 27-28, 2017. Police also noted how the search for the missing woman quickly changed into a suspicious death investigation.
[.....]
In two recorded interviews heard by jurors Wednesday, Popejoy denied knowing anything about Bonge’s whereabouts, despite repeated concerns expressed by Ottawa County Detective Sgt. Jacob Sparks. Popejoy also expressed surprise that a body was found behind his home, and other than seeing a searcher, whom he thought was a hunter on Dec. 27, he said he didn’t see or hear anything suspicious.

More in article.

 

[Niner]

from court site for 10/12/18:

Time Name Case Number Hearing Type Location
09:00 AM POPEJOY, WENDELL 18-041803-FC JURY TRIAL CONTINUATION Grand Haven

link: miOttawa - Ottawa County, Michigan

Friday, Oct. 12th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am ET) – MI – Sheila Bonge (59) (Dec. 26, 2017, Crockery Township) – Wendell Earl Popejoy (63) charged with “open murder” & using a firearm in commission of a felony. Plead not guilty. No bond; confessed to shooting.
Trial was to start June 5-6, 2018 by Judge. Ware retained a new attorney, trial delayed.
2/5/18 Update: Judge entered “not guilty plea”. Defendant retains new attorney, trial delayed.
9/21/18 Update: Walker hearing today 9/21 – Judge Miedema. Walker hearing: an evidentiary hearing to determine the voluntariness of the defendant’s statement; common allegations are the defendant was coerced, drunk, intimidated, retarded, etc.
9/21/18 Update: Trial starts 10/9.
10/9/18 Update Day 1: Jury Selected. Opening statements. Witnesses: Mark Meurer (neighbor) & Beth Meurer (neighbor) & Wayne Holman (fiancé). DA Frantz told jurors there would be 20 witnesses for the prosecution & that they would listen to several versions of Popejoy’s confession. Judge Karen Miedema said it was likely the trial could extend into next week. Popejoy is charged with open murder, so the jury could convict him of either first- or second-degree murder.
10/10/18 Update Day 2: Witnesses: Forensic pathologist Dr. David Start. Detective Steve McCarthy (now retired). Detective Michael Tamminga. On Thursday (10/11), jurors will listen to the rest of the audio recording of Popejoy’s second interview before proceeding to the next witness.
10/11/18 Update Day 3: No info yet.

 

[Niner]

Man regrets killing 'nuisance' neighbor blowing snow in his driveway

The trial, set for four days, began Tuesday, Oct. 9, and could continue into early next week.

more in article about Friday's hearing. Mostly of the 6 hour police interview where he confessed.

 

[Niner]

Monday, October 15th:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 9am ET) – MI – Sheila Bonge (59) (Dec. 26, 2017, Crockery Township) – Wendell Earl Popejoy (63) charged with “open murder” & using a firearm in commission of a felony. Plead not guilty. No bond; confessed to shooting.
Trial was to start June 5-6, 2018 by Judge.
2/5/18 Update: Judge entered “not guilty plea”. Defendant retains new attorney, trial delayed.
9/21/18 Update: Walker hearing today 9/21 – Judge Miedema. Walker hearing: an evidentiary hearing to determine the voluntariness of the defendant’s statement; common allegations are the defendant was coerced, drunk, intimidated, retarded, etc.
9/21/18 Update: Trial starts 10/9.
10/9/18 Update Day 1: Jury Selected. Opening statements. State witnesses: Mark Meurer (neighbor) & Beth Meurer (neighbor) & Wayne Holman (fiancé). DA Frantz told jurors there would be 20 witnesses for the prosecution & that they would listen to several versions of Popejoy’s confession. Judge Karen Miedema said it was likely the trial could extend into next week. Popejoy is charged with open murder, so the jury could convict him of either first- or second-degree murder.
10/10/18 Update Day 2: State witnesses: Forensic pathologist Dr. David Start. Detective Steve McCarthy (now retired). Detective Michael Tamminga. On Thursday (10/11), jurors will listen to the rest of the audio recording of Popejoy’s second interview before proceeding to the next witness.
10/11/18 Update Day 3: State Witnesses: Rhonda Clark, Popejoy’s girlfriend. Forensic scientist Troy Ernst. Forensic scientist Katherine Meredith. Jurors viewed Popejoy's & Clark's LE interviews. Trial is expected to continue into next week. Trial continues to 10/12.
10/12/18 Update Day 4: State played video recording of a police interview (6 hours) - where he asked for a piece of paper & confessed, in writing, to Sheila Bonge's slaying. Trial is expected to continue Monday morning (10/15) with the last of the five Popejoy interviews before being turned over to the defense for possible witnesses. Defense attorney Jeffrey Kortes would not say whether or not his client would take the stand.

 

[Niner]

Well - something must have happened yesterday, as he is not on the court site for today, 10/16.

Ah - found an article:
Jury in deliberations on Popejoy murder trial

The jury is now deliberating in a neighbor versus neighbor murder trial.
[.....]
Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Karen Miedema earlier denied Kortes’ request for a directed verdict. She also denied his request to add manslaughter to the instructions for the jury.

The jury has been ordered to choose a verdict of not guilty, guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, or guilty to second-degree murder. For count two, possession of a firearm during the murder, the jury can choose guilty or not guilty.

and if someone can give a 10% synopsis on this article:
'A crime of opportunity,' Jury finds Ottawa County man guilty of murdering his neighbor

Looks like the jury found him guilty - but to "what degree"??

TIA!

 

[JerseyGirl]

A jury found an Ottawa County man guilty of killing his neighbor while she was out clearing snow on their shared driveway.

It took them less than three hours to deliberate.

His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Ottawa County man convicted of killing neighbor while she cleared snow

 

[Niner]

Thank you - once again - JerseyGirl!

 

[JerseyGirl]

Wendell Earl Popejoy will be sentenced Nov. 5 for murdering his neighbor, Sheila Bonge. Popejoy shot Bonge in the head while she was snowblowing their shared driveway, then dumped her body in the woods behind their houses.

The neighbors, who bordered the boundary between Coopersville and Crockery Township, had an ongoing dispute about the driveway and Bonge snowblowing snow onto Popejoy’s side of the driveway.

He was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder by a jury and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Two sentencings, a jury trial set for November

 

[Niner]

Just checked the court site - down for maintenance..... so can't double check to see if this is still a go.

Monday, Nov. 5th:
*Sentencing (@ 9am ET) – MI – Sheila Bonge (59) (Dec. 26, 2017, Crockery Township) – Wendell Earl Popejoy (63) charged with “open murder” & using a firearm in commission of a felony. Plead not guilty. No bond; confessed to shooting.
Trial was to start June 5-6, 2018 by Judge. Ware retained a new attorney, trial delayed.
2/5/18 Update: Judge entered “not guilty plea”. Defendant retains new attorney, trial delayed.
9/21/18 Update: Walker hearing today 9/21 – Judge Miedema. Walker hearing: an evidentiary hearing to determine the voluntariness of the defendant’s statement; common allegations are the defendant was coerced, drunk, intimidated, retarded, etc.
9/21/18 Update: Trial starts 10/9.
10/9/18 Update Day 1: Jury Selected. Opening statements. State witnesses: Mark Meurer (neighbor) & Beth Meurer (neighbor) & Wayne Holman (fiancé). DA Frantz told jurors there would be 20 witnesses for the prosecution & that they would listen to several versions of Popejoy’s confession. Judge Karen Miedema said it was likely the trial could extend into next week. Popejoy is charged with open murder, so the jury could convict him of either first- or second-degree murder.
10/10/18 Update Day 2: State witnesses: Forensic pathologist Dr. David Start. Detective Steve McCarthy (now retired). Detective Michael Tamminga. On Thursday (10/11), jurors will listen to the rest of the audio recording of Popejoy’s second interview before proceeding to the next witness.
10/11/18 Update Day 3: State Witnesses: Rhonda Clark, Popejoy’s girlfriend. Forensic scientist Troy Ernst. Forensic scientist Katherine Meredith. Jurors viewed Popejoy's & Clark's LE interviews. Trial is expected to continue into next week. Trial continues to 10/12.
10/12/18 Update Day 4: State played video recording of a police interview (6 hours) - where he asked for a piece of paper & confessed, in writing, to Sheila Bonge's slaying. Trial is expected to continue Monday morning (10/15) with the last of the five Popejoy interviews before being turned over to the defense for possible witnesses. Defense attorney Jeffrey Kortes would not say whether or not his client would take the stand.
10/15/18 Update Day 5: Closing arguments. Jury deliberated & found him guilty of 1st degree murder. Sentenced on 11/5.

 

[Niner]

Court site back up -
Sentencing is at 1pm, not the 9am I have above.

 

[Niner]

Popejoy receives life sentence for killing neighbor blowing snow in his driveway.

 

[Niner]

He doesn't look to happy with his lawyer in this article
Michigan man sentenced to life for neighbor’s fatal shooting

 

[JerseyGirl]

Life sentence for killing neighbor helps 'but doesn't bring her back'

Ottawa Co. man gets life sentence for neighbor's murder