Alger man killed with ax for calling killer a 'pedophile,' police say

Posted in Related Deaths

2-11-2017 Michigan:

OGEMAW COUNTY, MI -- Police believe the Alger man found dead in his home earlier this month was killed with an ax because he called a man a "pedophile" for his conviction of raping a teen.

The suspect had been living in the Alger home of William Joseph Shanks for about a week before the two got into a dispute over the suspect's criminal history, Ogemaw County Sheriff Howie Hanft said.

"The guy called him a pedophile and he didn't like that, so he killed him," Hanft said.

Hanft said Shanks, 57, was hit in the head with an ax. The homicide occurred sometime between Feb. 1 and Feb. 4 in his home in the 4700 block of Rifle River Trail.

Police were tipped to the homicide by Robert Maxwell, 49, a parole absconder from Flint.

UPDATE: Three people found guilty of setting fatal fire sentenced

This UPDATES the original article HERE

10-27-16 New York:

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — It began almost a year and a half ago when Troy fire and police found the Second Avenue apartment up in flames, but it ended in court on Thursday.

All three suspects were sentenced on Thursday for setting the fire and for causing the death of 82-year-old Grace Halpin.

“It was 3:20 a.m., the cops showed up at the door,” Halpin’s daughter read.

The daughter of Halpin trembled as she read her victim impact statement.

Her mother was killed in the Lansingburgh arson in May 2015.

“When my dad died when I was younger, I promised her that I would take care of her,” Halpin’s daughter read. “I felt like looking after her was my responsibility and I hadn’t been able to protect her from the crime that was committed that ultimately took her life.”

3 charged with Troy arson now face murder charges

Very sad case, a sex offender was targeted for a debt but was not hurt during the arson, instead an innocent 82-yr old lady living in same apartment building was killed.

See UPDATE

7-2-15 New York:

TROY -- Three people were arraigned Thursday in Rensselaer County Court for their alleged roles in a Lansingburgh fire that caused an 82-year-old woman to have a fatal heart attack.

Last week, a grand jury handed up first- and second-degree murder charges against Tyler Smith, 24, of Castleton; and Abbey Slaga, 20, and David Stanley, 22, both of Frankliton, N.C.

Grace Halpin was rescued from the May 1 fire at 520 Second Ave. but died nearly a month later.

Smith, Slaga and Stanley previously were charged with arson in connection with the fire.

They also are charged with assault, criminal mischief, burglary and 10 counts of reckless endangerment, one for each of the other residents of 520 Second Ave. who escaped the blaze.