A judge on Tuesday denied bond to five Michigan teenagers who are charged with second-degree murder in a deadly rock-throwing incident on Interstate 75.
All five suspects in the death of 32-year-old Ken White entered not-guilty pleas in a Genesee County court.
White, a father-of-four from Mount Morris, was a passenger in a van when a six-pound rock thrown from an overpass smashed through the windshield, killing him, last week.
Police say at least 20 rocks were found on the interstate, 80 miles north of Detroit. Other cars were damaged.
Kyle Anger, 17, of Clio, Michigan, one of five teenage suspects in a deadly rock-throwing incident, is led into the courtroom for his arraignment on Tuesday
Mikadyn Payne (left), 16 and Trevor Gray (right), 15, are among five Michigan teenagers charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy and property destruction
Also charged are Alexzander Miller (left), 15, and Mark Sekelsky (right), 16, who pleaded not guilty and were denied bond
The underage suspects are charged as adults. Kyle Anger turns 18 next week. He’s accused of throwing the rock that hit the van.
Ken White, a 32-year-old father-of-four, was killed after a six-pound rock thrown from an overpass smashed through his windshield and struck him on Interstate 75 in Michigan
The teens also face charges of conspiracy and property destruction. The others are 16-year-olds Mark Sekelsky and Mikadyn Payne and 15-year-olds Alexzander Miller and Trevor Gray.
Genessee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced the charges Monday, five days after White’s killing.
All five suspects could face life in prison for the second-degree murder charge.
‘I don’t think this was a deliberate attempt to take somebody’s life. It was a willful and wanton act that resulted in somebody’s death,’ Leyton said regarding the charges.
On Tuesday, Genesee District Judge William Crawford II ordered all five young men held without bond, citing ‘the seriousness of the nature of these charges and the danger to the public,’ reported Mlive.com.
From left to right, Trevor Gray, 15, Alexzander Miller, 15, Mikadyn Payne, 16, and Kyle Anger, 17, all of Clio, Mich., appear for their arraignment in front of Judge William Crawford
‘Ringleader’: Anger, pictured in an orange jumpsuit talking to his lawyer, turns 18 next week. He’s accused of throwing the rock that hit the van
Devastated: Ken White’s fiancee Amy Cagle is pictured in the audience during the suspects’ arraignment Tuesday
Kenny White (right), the victim’s father, is pictured clasping his hands next to his would-be daughter-in-law in court Tuesday
Family members of the victim, including his father Kenny White and his fiancee , and relatives of the five teens attended the suspects’ arraignment Tuesday.
Anger, the oldest of the five, is being held in the county jail, while his alleged accomplices are being held in the Genesee Valley Regional Center for juveniles.
They are due back in court on November 2.
White lost his life last Wednesday night when, according to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the large rock thrown by the teens struck the father-of-four in the head when it came crashing through the windshield.
White was immediately knocked unconscious. He was then rushed to the Hurley Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Five teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case. Pictured is 17-year-old Kyle Anger. The rest of the teens are 15 years old
Trevor Gray (left) and Mikadyn Payne (right) have also been charged in connection with the case. The five defendants could face life in prison if found guilty of the charge
Alexander Miller (left) and Mark Sekelsky (right) have also been charged. In a statement about the charges, Genessee County Prosecutor David Leyton said: ‘I don’t think this was a deliberate attempt to take somebody’s life. It was a willful and wanton act that resulted in somebody’s death’
Officers said the incident happened just before 8.30pm near the Dodge Road overpass in Vienna Township, which is about 16 miles from Flint.
Photos of the scene show a gaping hole in the windshield of a white van with a ladder fastened on top. Two large rocks were also found on the highway.
According to MLive, there were four other vehicles that reported hitting other large rocks on the highway.
White left behind a fiancee and four children. Speaking to WBTV, his fiancee Amy Cagle discussed the heartbreak of telling her five-year-old son what happened to his father.
Amy Cagle, White’s fiancee, teared up while describing how she needed to tell her five-year-old son about his father’s tragic death
White had four children, and his youngest is five years old. A GoFundMe account was set up to help his family with burial costs
Amy Cagle discussed the heartbreak of telling her five-year-old son what happened to his father
Authorities said the teens dropped the rocks just before 8.30pm last Wednesday near the Dodge Road overpass (aerial view seen above)
‘For some senseless act, for it to be just a rock, just to take him so soon,’ she said.
A GoFundMe account was set up for White’s family to help with his burial. His youngest child is five years old.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the page has raised about $56,500 of its $70,000 goal.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said the large rock that struck White smashed the windshield of the van in which he was riding