As the year 2023 came to a close, the number of homicides reported in Oakland County totaled 16, down by more than 50 percent from the year prior.
Yet despite the marked decrease over the past year, there’s no question that every life ended at the hands of someone else is agonizingly tragic for the loved ones left behind. While working to cope with the anguish of their loss, they have the added burden of the associated crime element —- and sometimes face months or even years seeking justice.
Of Oakland County’s reported homicide cases of 2023, 12 happened in the first half of the year. Investigators believe they’ve identified the killers in the majority of the cases, which are moving forward through the legal system. For four of the other cases, no arrests have been made — but in two of them charging decisions are in the hands of the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Of those cases where charges have been filed, one remains open with the possibility of a second defendant being named, Undersheriff Curtis Childs recently told The Oakland Press.
A look back on the past few years shows Oakland County had 37 reported homicides in 2022 and 35 reported cases in 2021. In 2020, there were 26, and in 2019 there were 21 reported homicides.
Of the county’s 16 slayings in 2023, nine happened in Pontiac. The others occurred in five other communities: Two each in Auburn Hills and Commerce Township, and one each in Highland Township, Royal Oak Township and Southfield.
The numbers are based on information made available to The Oakland Press from county law enforcement groups.
Two of 2023’s homicide victims were children. Two other victims died in murder-suicides.
“While one murder is one too many, the reduction in homicides has been a goal of our unified effort,” said Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “Also, as homicide closures have plummeted nationwide statistically, our team has a very high closure rate, and we never give up on a case. I am proud of their dedicated work.”
The 2023 reported cases, as of midday Dec. 31, starting with the most recent:
Anthony Holcomb
Anthony Russell Holcomb, 47, was shot to death on Dec. 2 while staying at the Suburban Studio Hotel in Auburn Hills.
Charged with open murder for his death is Malcolm Otis Draper, 24, of Pontiac.
Auburn Hills police dispatched to the hotel at around 8 p.m. that day for a possible shooting found Holcomb with a bullet wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he died.
It was Draper who called 911 and reportedly stated he had shot someone, officials said.
Draper is scheduled for a preliminary exam on Jan. 12 before 52-3 District Judge Lisa Asadoorian.
Desiree Childs
Desiree Childs, 16, was fatally shot in Pontiac on Oct. 28.
Charged in her slaying is 22-year-old K’Nique Lawrence, who faces one count of open murder and three firearms-related offenses.
It’s believed Desiree was an unintended victim in the shooting, which happened at the intersection of South Johnson Avenue and Menominee Road in Pontiac. The teen was reportedly walking along the street with a friend when she was shot in the leg and chest, and then died at an area hospital.
According to her obituary, Desiree was “a strong, intelligent, and beautiful young woman” who had a great sense of humor and “a smile that lit up every room she entered.”
Lawrence is scheduled for a preliminary exam on Feb. 16 before 50th District Judge Jeremy Bowie.
Robert Wayne Lee
Robert Wayne Lee of Pontac was shot to death on Sept. 29 inside Universal Coney Island near the corner of North Perry Street and MLK Boulevard in Pontiac. He was 40 years old.
Lee — also known as “Boopac Shakur” — gained notoriety for what some considered to be unorthodox efforts to catch child predators. He was reportedly shot after confronting two males in the restaurant, but according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office there is no evidence that the confrontation was part of a sting operation or planned meeting.
Two males, ages 16 and 20, were arrested soon after the shooting. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office recently told The Oakland Press a warrant request has been with the prosecutor’s office for one suspect, who has been in custody since the end of September for an unrelated shooting — which happened before the Lee homicide.
Cayla Rose Carr
Cayla Rose Carr of Auburn Hills was the victim of a murder-suicide in Auburn Hills on Sept. 6. She was 25 years old.
According to Auburn Hills police, she was killed by Connor Michael Hicks, 25, of Clarkston, who then died by suicide.
As stated in her obituary, Carr was a teacher at Early Explorers Academy in Waterford and a Sunday school teacher at Shalom Baptist Church in Orion Township.
Mari Sparks
Mari Sparks of Pontiac was fatally shot June 20 in Pontiac, at the age of 22.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, shortly after midnight deputies responded to the North Hills Farms apartment complex in Pontiac on a report of a shooting and found Sparks and three other Pontiac men, ages 31, 27 and 23, with gunshot wounds.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shootings.
According to his obituary, Mari “Spazz” Sparks was the father of two.
Irwin David Santiago-Leon
Irwin David Santiago-Leon of Pontiac was shot multiple times on May 23 and died that evening at a local hospital. He was 33 years old.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened at a house in the 300 block of Central Avenue in Pontiac. It was reported by Santiago-Leon’s girlfriend, and multiple witnesses were interviewed at the scene. Three suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the case. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said no the case is in the hands of the prosecutor’s office.
According to his obituary, Santiago-Leon worked as a tree climber and barber. He had one son.
Annie Salem Namou
Annie Salem Namou of Sterling Heights died May 20 after being shot outside a Legend Motors, a Royal Oak Township car dealership where she worked. She was 40 years old.
Her ex-boyfriend and father of her child, Gregory Keyier-Deniro Davis, 44, of Oak Park turned himself in to Detroit police later that day. Namou’s and Davis’ 10-year-old daughter reportedly witnessed the homicide.
Davis is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, felon in possession of a firearm, felonious assault and four counts of felony firearm, second offense. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 22 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe.
Jamesha Kelley
Jamesha Kelley was fatally shot outside the Marriott Hotel in Southfield on May 8. She was 41 years old.
Also shot was Kelley’s male companion as they entered the parking lot of the hotel. The man survived.
The suspected shooter was reportedly Kelley’s boyfriend, Kyle Bozeman III, who was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in Detroit a few hours after Kelley was killed. According to police, Bozeman was in a convertible with the top down when officers approached him, and he reportedly reached for a weapon. That’s when officers shot him.
Kelley was reportedly the mother of eight children and Bozeman was the father of her two youngest.
Wyatt Earp Geans
Wyatt Earp Geans died May 8 after being shot multiple times at a residence in the 700 block of Whittemore Street in Pontiac. He was 66 years old.
Deputies responding to a report of shots fired found Geans with a bullet wound to the chest. Geans was transported to an area hospital and died during surgery.
Maurice Eugene Sanders, 32, is charged with open murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm for the fatal shooting. He was arrested within 11 hours of the shooting. Sanders has a lengthy criminal history.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, it’s believed the shooting stemmed from an argument between Geans and Sanders. Sanders is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court on Jan. 4.
Calandra Green
Calandra Letisha Green, Oakland County Health Division officer, was found fatally shot at her home in Pontiac on May 11. She was 50 years old.
Green, officer for the Oakland County Health Division since 2022, was killed by her husband, Charles Quincy Green, in a murder-suicide. She was the mother of one daughter.
Armani Terrell Baker
Armani Terrell Baker of Waterford Township died April 29 after being shot multiple times in Pontiac. He was 22 years old.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found Baker’s body in the front seat of a Ford Fusion on Hammond Street between Nelson and Oliver streets shortly after 12:30 a.m. Investigators believe robbery was the motive for the slaying.
Three teens are charged in connection with Baker’s death. Christian Harris, 17, charged as an adult, faces one count each of felony murder and armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commision of a felony. His trial is scheduled to start next April. Jeremiah Rodriguez, 18, is charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. His next court appearance is scheduled for February. The third defendant is Sander Hawkins, charged as a juvenile with accessory after the fact to murder.
Sami Loussia
Sami Loussia, 76, died March 29 at his home in the 3400 block of Sutton Road in Commerce Township. He had been stabbed multiple times.
His son, Jacob Sami Loussia, 22, is charged with open murder for the death. He has since undergone a psychiatric evaluation and was found to be incompetent. However, the report states it’s possible he could regain competency with treatment.
The case is continuing in Oakland County Circuit Court. Jacob Loussia is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in February before Judge Martha Anderson.
Bernard Bugnell
Bernard Bugnell, 69, died March 22 after being shot at his home in Highland Township.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Bugnell was killed by his son-in-law, who subsequently was shot dead by a deputy called to the scene. The son-in-law, who had lived in Dearborn Heights, had also shot Bugnell’s wife, Sandra, who survived.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office won’t release information about the son-in-law, including his name. A FOIA request by The Oakland Press was denied months ago by the sheriff’s office, which cited an ongoing investigation. An email follow-up request for more information was made in December but received no response.
According to his obituary, Bugnell was the married father of four. He was an avid outdoorsman, but his first priority was his family. He also was a Marine veteran who served in the Vietnam War.
Piper Carrothers
Piper Carrothers of Commerce Township died March 22 from injuries sustained when a speeding driver reportedly crashed into the vehicle she was riding in while traveling in Walled Lake. She was 13 years old.
The unlicensed driver of the vehicle, who was 15 years old at the time, and his 19-year-old passenger, Gavin Kassab, are charged with manslaughter, reckless driving causing death, first-degree fleeing and eluding causing death, and two counts of second-degree fleeing and eluding.
The driver is also charged with leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor.
Piper’s sister and mother required hospitalization for injuries they sustained in the crash.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to name the teen driver — despite the adult status — because it’s a juvenile court case. The Oakland Press became aware of the teen’s name through court records but isn’t naming him for the same reason.
A source close to the case reports a request to have the teen evaluated for competency has been made to the court.
Kassab is accused of encouraging the teen driver to flee from police in pursuit for a traffic violation moments before the crash, which happened at the intersection of Maple and Decker roads. His trial is scheduled for February in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Donald James Whitfield
Donald James Whitfield was shot to death Feb. 15 in Pontiac. He was 41 years old.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and emergency medical personnel called to the 60 block of Fireside Lane on a report of a man shot found him lying on a floor unconscious in his apartment at around 10:15 p.m. Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful. Whitfield was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. His killer is at-large.
Torrey Ryder
Torrey Ryder was found dead Jan. 10 in an apartment in the 60 block of Surrey Lane in Pontiac. He was 31 years old.
Ryder died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Charged in the homicide is Dontae Geter, 28. Geter evaded authorities for about two months after the slaying. He was arrested at a house in Pontiac last March.
Geter is due back in Oakland County Circuit Court on Jan. 25 for a pretrial hearing before Judge Yasmine Poles.
According to Ryder’s obituary, he was the father of three sons.
Also of note:
While investigators determined the slaying happened in Detroit, the body of Patrice Wilson, 29, was found in an SUV outside a Novi apartment complex on May 14. Wilson was reportedly kidnapped hours earlier outside DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital where she worked as a nurse. She had been shot multiple times.
Wilson was killed by Jamere Mykel Miller, who she was reportedly ending her relationship with just before she died. Miller, of Inkster, made a deal with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in October, pleading guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 35-60 years in prison.
In exchange for the plea, per the agreement, charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, carjacking, armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and five counts of felony firearm were dismissed.
Investigators said Miller had waited outside the hospital for Wilson — disguised with a wig, hat and glasses — then fired at her after she got into her car. Miller then got into the driver’s seat and fled the scene with Wilson, fatally wounded, in the car.
Later that day, police, acting on a tip, found Wilson’s body inside her car in Novi. Miller turned himself in to Detroit police the next day.