Five teenagers accused of killing a father-of-four hurling a rock through his car windscreen, had been throwing items off the same underpass for days before the fatal crash.
The teens, aged 15 to 17, even threw a recliner off the Busch Road overpass onto I-75 near the 140-mile marker, Michigan, just two days before the tragedy, as part of ‘a long-running game,’ Michigan Live reports.
Kyle Anger, 17, and four 15-year-olds: Alexander Miller, Trevor Gray, Mikaydyn Payne and Mark Sekelsky, have all been charged as adults with second degree murder.
Each teen could face up to life in jail for allegedly throwing a six pound rock which smashed through a motorist’s windscreen on October 18, killing dad-of-four Ken White, 32.
Five teenagers accused of killing a Michigan father-of-four hurling a rock through his car windscreen, had been throwing items off the same underpass for days before the fatal crash. Pictured is Kyle Anger, 17, of Clio, Michigan, at his arraignment on October 24
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
Genesee County Undersheriff Chris Swanson told the Genesee County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday, said that the kids had a history of tossing items off the bridge.
‘We have tracked that going through Saginaw County 911 that this has been a long-running game with these kids,’ Swanson said.
Two days before White was killed, local police has received reports of a red recliner chair being thrown off the Busch Road overpass onto the I-75.
The witness told Michigan State Police they’d seen someone pull up in a blue pickup truck before dumping the furniture over the bridge.
On that occasion, no one was hurt and no vehicles were damaged. Police recovered the recliner from the side of the road.
Amy Cagle discussed the heartbreak of telling her five-year-old son what happened to his father
White had four children, and his youngest is five years old. A GoFundMe account was set up to help his family with burial costs
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said the large rock that struck White smashed the windshield of the van in which he was riding
Police say at least 20 rocks were also found on the interstate, 80 miles north of Detroit, which appear to have been thrown.
All five teens could face life in prison for the second-degree murder charge. Each is also charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and malicious destruction of property, WNEM reports.
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
All five teens entered not-guilty pleas to the charges last month. They are being held without bond.
‘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.
White was tragically killed on October 18 by a six-pound rock that smashed through his windshield after a group of teenagers threw it off an overpass on Interstate 75 in Michigan.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said the large rock 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.
Officers said the incident happened just before 8.30pm near the Dodge Road overpass in Vienna Township, which is about 16 miles from Flint.
Devastated: Ken White’s fiancee Cagle is pictured in the audience during the suspects’ arraignment Tuesday
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
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.
‘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. The page has raised about $80,000.
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’