With trial underway for two men charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in connection with a purported murder-for-hire of a popular Oakland County businessman Daniel Hutchinson, the defense on Wednesday grilled a key witness — the detective who headed up the case — about a formal reprimand he received from his supervisor for meeting Hutchinson’s widow at a bar months after the slaying.
Sgt. Dwaine Green of Oak Park’s Department of Public Safety returned to the witness stand in Oakland County Circuit Court for cross examination, where defense attorney James Thomas appeared to suggest Green may have compromised the case back in October 2022 when he met Marisa Hutchinson for drinks, after work hours, without his supervisor’s permission. Thomas is representing Marco Bisbikis, accused of masterminding the Hutchinson homicide plan; it’s alleged Bisbikis wanted the Hutchinsons killed because he was posed to benefit financially due to a will he had drafted for the couple.
Daniel Hutchinson, of Pleasant Ridge, was fatally shot June 1, 2022 outside his Pay Beny pawn shop on Greenfield Road in Oak Park. He was also the well-known owner of Hutch’s Jewelry located down the street from the pawn shop, whose customers included famous rap musicians and other wealthy clients. The accused gunman is Detroiter Roy Larry, who reportedly carried out the shooting while on a bicycle. Larry and Bisbikis are being tried together.
According to court records, a private investigator told Oakland County chief litigator John Skrzynski that Green had an after-hours meeting with Marisa Hutchinson, and that some family members reportedly suspected Marisa Hutchinson was in a sexual relationship with Green. Skrzynski relayed the information to Green’s supervisor at the Oak Park public safety department in January 2023, and that month Skrzynski and Green’s supervisor interviewed Green about the meeting and the allegations. Green denied the sexual allegations but admitted to meeting Marisa Hutchinson outside of work, and he was subsequently written up for violating department policy. But it wasn’t until last Thursday that the defense learned about the meeting and the disciplinary action. That prompted a request by Thomas last week to postpone the trial, which Judge Nanci Grant denied.
Assistant prosecutor Ric Polanco first raised the issue in court on Tuesday, questioning Green about meeting Marisa Hutchinson at the bar — which he admitted to, but again, denied anything “sexual or inappropriate” occurred. Rather, Green testified, the meeting was an opportunity for Marisa Hutchinson to discuss the case away from the security surrounding her house since the slaying.
Court records show the issue initally emerged after Daniel and Marisa Hutchinson’s teenage daughter reported overhearing a telephone conversation between her mother and Green in October 2022, then followed her to the bar.
Marco Bisbikis was arrested the next month and charged with Hutchinson’s murder and other related crimes, though Green testified he had been a suspect early on. Green also said that Marisa Hutchinson “had expressed concerns about (Bisbikis) for some time,” but that it wasn’t discussed at that particular meeting.
Still, Thomas pressed Green on Wednesday about him spending time with Marisa Hutchinson at the bar that day. “What could you possibly have been thinking?”
In response, Green said: “Evidently, I wasn’t thinking correctly,” adding that he had shown poor judgment in meeting with her.
Since the reprimand, Green’s been promoted to sergeant. He also testified that he’s in line for a promotion to lieutenant.