Matthew Torrey Tiggs, Jr., 22, of Eastpointe, has been scheduled for a 11 a.m., Sept. 25, live preliminary exam at 34th District Court on nine charges including second-degree murder and assault with intent to commit murder.
He is accused of the Aug. 4 shooting death of 26-year-old Jean Thomas Butchart in Van Buren Estates mobile home park in the 16800 block of Lohr Road. Butchart did maintenance for Van Buren Estates.
Butchart identified as a transgender male and did not identify himself using his legal name “Catherine,” according to a news release from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Van Buren Township Police found Butchart dead with a bullet wound to the head. Tiggs allegedly had approached the victim and produced and fired a handgun multiple times before fleeing the scene.
For this, he is charged with one count of second-degree murder, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of felony firearm.
Tiggs also is accused of pulling a firearm after an argument with a 45-year-old man around 11:31 a.m. on the previous Friday, July 28, in the 30 block of Birch Drive in the mobile home park. He allegedly pointed the weapon at the man before fleeing the scene. This assault wasn’t discovered until after the shooting on Aug. 6.
For this he is charged with one count of felonious assault, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felony firearm.
Van Buren police were at the mobile home park on Sunday, Aug. 6, investigating the Aug. 4 murder, when they were dispatched to a residence in the 40 block of Birch Drive for multiple gunshots. Officers found a 47-year-old victim suffering from gunshot wounds to the right upper arm and lower back. He was transported to a hospital.
It is alleged that Tiggs approached the victim while he was in his vehicle and produced and fired a handgun multiple times, wounding the victim. The defendant then allegedly barricaded himself inside the next-door residence.
After a two-hour standoff with the Western Wayne SWAT team negotiating, Tiggs was taken into custody.
For this he is charged with one count of assault with intent to murder, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felony firearm.
He is considered an habitual offender with a second-offense notice. He pled guilty to a charge of carrying a concealed weapon on Jan. 27, 2019 in Macomb County and served two years in state prison. He was released July 29, 2021.
Patricia-Jan Mary-Margaret Favors
Patricia-Jan Mary-Margaret Favors, 55, of Lachine, MI was due for her remote arraignment/pre-trial on Aug. 30 and that was changed to Sept. 7. She was charged with a moving violation causing death on July 31 in Van Buren Township. Her probable cause conference was scheduled for Sept. 13 and personal bond set at $1,000. She pled no contest and the case was sent to probation for a sentence recommendation.
A notice will be sent to the victim’s family to allow them to give statements, if desired, before the sentencing on Oct. 2.
Her defense attorney said Favors has been in counseling and prays every day for the family. Favors told the judge she was making a left turn into a parking lot when the accident occurred.
Van Buren Township Deputy Police Chief Joshua Monte said that on July 31, 2023 at around noon, Patricia Favors was driving a semi-truck, without a trailer (bobtail), north on Belleville Road. She was in the left-turn lane, making a left turn from northbound Belleville into the Costco parking lot (near Yost Road), when she turned in front of a motorcyclist travelling south on Belleville Road. The motorcycle collided with the semi-truck killing the motorcycle driver, who was identified as John Divetta, a 68-year-old male from Brownstown Township.
Following the investigation by the police department’s accident investigation team, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged Favors with committing a moving violation, causing death, a one-year misdemeanor.
Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in this fatal crash, Deputy Chief Monte said.
Damarius Dontaye Tubbs
Damarius Dontaye Tubbs, 31, of Ypsilanti, was arraigned by video at the 34th District Court while in custody of the Van Buren Police Department on Sept. 1. He was charged with one count of controlled substance-deliver/manufacture (narcotics or cocaine) less than 50 grams on Aug. 31 in Van Buren Township. Judge Tina Brooks Green set his bond at $10,000/10% and his probable cause conference for Sept. 13.
Then, his live preliminary exam was set for 1:30 p.m., Oct. 25.
Tyarius Travonte Bryant
Tyarius Travonte Bryant of Sumpter Township was scheduled for his remote arraignment/pretrial on Aug. 30 before Judge Green. He is charged with assault or assault and battery on Dec. 12, 2022 in the city of Belleville. Failure to appear. Bench warrant issued.
Michael George Sisler
Michael George Sisler, 55, of Belleville, was due before Judge Green on Aug. 30 for seven charges of disorderly person and disturbing the peace on Aug. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, along with expired license on June 9, all in the city of Belleville. The court date was adjourned because he was in Beaumont Psychiatric Clinic.
Wade Douglas McKenzie
Wade Douglas McKenzie, 55, of Ypsilanti, was charged with operating while intoxicated-third and driving while license suspended on March 27, 2017 in Van Buren Township. He was video-arraigned while in custody of Van Buren police on July 17 and present for his probable cause conference on July 26. His preliminary exam was set for Sept. 6.
At that time charges were dismissed on a motion that there was lack of a speedy trial. He was reminded he has a Sept. 14 court date on another case. One charge – drove while license not valid – was dismissed and improper use of lights had a default judgment. He pled guilty to a new charge of double parking and was fined $350. Case closed.
Alexis Kristine Alexander
Alexis Kristine Alexander of Ypsilanti failed to appear for her Sept. 6 arraignment/pretrial on a charge of retail fraud-2nd degree on June 23 in Van Buren Township. A show-cause hearing will be set.
Tamara Marie Perkins
Tamara Marie Perkins of Ypsilanti failed to appear for her Sept. 6 arraignment/pretrial on a charge of retail fraud-2nd degree on June 23 in Van Buren Township. A show-cause hearing will be set.
Caleb Gabriel Haynes
Caleb Gabriel Haynes, 18, of Van Buren Township was present Sept. 6 from the Wayne County Jail on charges of armed robbery and felony weapon on Aug. 27 in Van Buren Township. His preliminary exam was set for noon on Oct. 18. Bond is $5,000/10% with tether and he remains in jail because officials there are having troubles getting a tether.
Defense attorney Douglas Monds said his client is working two jobs and taking care of his twin brother and sister. He will appear as required, the attorney said. He said the charges came from a personal dispute between friends.
Judge Martin removed the requirement of a tether from the bond.
Evan Nathaniel Holloway
Haynes’ codefendant Evan Nathaniel Holloway, 21, of Van Buren Township, was also present from the Wayne County Jail for his probable cause conference for charges of armed robbery and felony firearm on Aug. 27 in Van Buren Township. Bond is $10,000/10%.
Judge Martin removed the requirement of a tether from the bond.
A preliminary exam was set for noon on Oct. 18 with his codefendant.
Defense attorney Jackie Picowitz said her client lives with his mother and she posted his bond.
Dennis Austin Thick
Dennis Austin Thick, 53, of Belleville was video-arraigned in custody at Van Buren Township police department on July 31 on charges of stalking and disturbing the peace on July 28 in Van Buren Township.
Judge Martin set his personal bond at $10,000 and his pretrial for Aug. 9 before Judge Brian Oakley. He is not to be released without a GPS tether and must not return to 9800 Belleville Rd. or an address on Peninsular.
At first the defendant didn’t want a court-appointed attorney and then he did so the pretrial was adjourned until Sept. 9.
He was present for his Sept. 9 remote arraignment/pretrial from the Wayne County Jail. He told Judge Martin that he hadn’t had his medications for 10 days that he had been in jail. Judge Martin will have the jail review his needs for psychotic drugs and have him meet with a medical person.
His final pretrial was set for Oct. 11 and they will have as many of his new cases put together as possible, Judge Martin said.
Eric Tremaine Casey
Eric Tremaine Casey, 39, of Inkster was arraigned by Judge Oakley on Jan. 3 on a charge of domestic violence on Jan. 1 in Van Buren Township. Personal bond was set for $1,000 and a pretrial was set for Jan. 10. Final pretrial was set for Feb. 14. At that time the charge was dismissed by the victim and the PPO was dismissed.
On Sept. 6, Casey, now 40, of Inkster was present for his in-custody video arraignment by Magistrate Al Hindman on charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and domestic violence on Sept. 3 in Van Buren Township. His probable cause conference was set for Sept. 20 and bond is $5,000/10%. He is to have no contact with the victim.
Alicia Marie Kozub
Charges of interfering with a crime report and domestic violence on Sept. 24, 2022 in Sumpter Township were dismissed against Alicia Marie Kozub, 36, of Sumpter Township on Oct. 5, 2022.
The victim stated she no longer wished to bring charges or cooperate with the prosecution.
Kozub, now 37, was present from the Wayne County Jail on Sept. 13 for a probable cause conference on her new charges dated Aug. 30 in Sumpter Township. She is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault), and aggravated domestic violence. She is being held on $100,000 cash bond.
Her live preliminary exam was set for 1 p.m., Oct. 25. Present by zoom for the preliminary exam was victim Robert Kozub in a wheelchair.
Judge Martin granted the defendant’s defense attorney Lauren Anderson’s request for a referral for a bond review.
Garry Decastro Scott
Garry Decastro Scott, 60, of Ypsilanti, was present for his probable cause conference on Sept. 13 to face charges of operating while intoxicated-third and drove while license suspended-second on March 5, 2022 in Van Buren Township. Bond is $5,000 personal. His probable cause conference was adjourned until Oct. 4 so his defense attorney could pursue a resolution. Also, the tether was ordered removed at the request of the defense attorney.
Ashley Lei Riggs
Ashley Lei Riggs of Ypsilanti, was present Sept. 13 for her probable cause conference on a charge of false report of a felony on Nov. 13, 2022 in Van Buren Township. The charge was dismissed for insufficient evidence.
Devon Juwan Thompson
Devon Juwan Thompson, 28, of Ypsilanti, was present before 34th District Court Chief Judge Brian Oakley on Aug. 16 for his arraignment/pretrial on a charge of assault and battery on July 1 in the city of Belleville. His final pretrial was set for Sept. 20 when the complaining victim must appear.
Allen Jiaqi Liu
Allen Jiaqi Liu of White Bear Lake, MN, was video arraigned in custody by Judge Tina Brooks Green Aug. 25 on a charge of domestic violence on Aug. 23 in Van Buren Township. Personal bond was set at $10,000. His remote pretrial was set for Sept. 12 and adjourned to Sept. 26.
Dean Patrick Hauter
Dean Patrick Hauter, 48, who had an Ann Arbor address but said he was homeless, was present by zoom before 34th District Court Judge Tina Brooks Green for a bench warrant video arraignment on Aug. 17. He was in custody at the Van Buren Township police department. He is charged with violating park rules and regulations in Van Buren Township on Sept. 29, 2022. His remote pretrial was set for Sept. 21. His personal bond is $10,000.