FeedsPair found guilty in stabbing death
A Wayne County jury convicted two Inkster residents July 5 of first-degree murder and felony murder in the death of a retired autoworker, whose body was discovered under a mattress in his bedroom.
After deliberating for a day and a half, jurors accepted the prosecution’s assertion that Otha Sandusky, 34, and Tanecia Allen, 19, stabbed 62-year-old Cleo Tyus at his home on Beechnut Street. Tyus’ body was discovered Aug. 1, 2005, after a family member requested police check on him.
Judge David Groner ordered both defendants held at the Wayne County Jail until they are formally sentenced on Aug. 3, said Assistant Prosecutor Athina Siringis.
In Michigan, first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Siringis called the case against the pair “complex,” and said that although the evidence against Sandusky was fairly strong; the case against Allen was weak until a jailhouse informant told prosecutors she talked about the crime while awaiting trial.
“We had someone step forward . . . who told us Allen spoke to her about her involvement in this in jail,” Siringis said. “(The informant) told us that Allen told Sandusky she was raped at the house, and that they planned to go over there. (Allen) told the witness that she held him down while her boyfriend stabbed him.”
Det. Tony Delgreco of the Inkster Police Department said there was never a report filed by Allen accusing Tyus of rape or misconduct.
Siringis also said the pair took valuables out of the home and stole Tyus’ blue Cadillac.
During the trial, Ann Allard, Sandusky’s aunt, testified that her nephew confessed to her that he stabbed the retiree. DNA samples collected by evidence technicians from cigarette butts found in Tyus’ vehicle – which was found in the defendant’s possession at a motel – was also crucial to the case, Siringis said.
“DNA from both defendants was found on the cigarettes,” she said.
Defense attorney David Cripps – Allen’s lawyer – said the verdict will be appealed.
“Miss Allen and I are very disappointed with jury verdict in this case,” he said. “One juror did express reservations about (Allen’s) role in the murder during deliberations. She had doubt as to whether (Allen) participated in the murder itself.”
Added Cripps: ‘We also think the jury put too much faith into some of the witnesses, which had deals (with prosecutors) for themselves. When he was told she was raped, he did this in a rage. We were hoping (Sandusky) would take the stand to explain that, but he didn’t.”
Doraid Elder, who defended Sandusky, did not return calls seeking comment.
Attempts to reach members of both the victim’s and the defendants’ families were unsuccessful. A member of Allen’s family contacted the Ledger-Star anonymously last week, and attempts to reach that person for an interview were unsuccessful.
Allen and Sandusky did not testify in their own defense during the trial, Siringis said.
