Thelonious Searcy Michigan
THELONIOUS SEARCY - MICHIGAN
BACKGROUND
My name is Thelonious Shawn Searcy, aged 40 years old.
I am a prisoner in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Sixteen years ago, I was convicted for a murder and an assault with the intent to commit murder, that I didn't commit.
Prior to going to prison in 2004, I was married with two daughters.
When I left society, I was a productive citizen in my community. I maintained employment at Home Depot, working as halo driving pulling orders for delivery. My job was located on West 8 Mile Rd and Greenfield. At my second job, I was a stock employee at CVS Pharmacy on Woodward and Bethum.
All of this came to an end on November 30 2004, when I was arrested for this crime. Since then, I have been fighting to prove my innocence.
In 2017, I filed my brief under 770.1/6.502 G with regards to being an actual innocent, and presented newly discovered evidence. Upon filing this documentation with the trial court, I was granted an Evidentiary Hearing, and appointed an Attorney through the Michigan Appellate Counsel. The attorney’s name is Micheal R. Deszi.
This Evidentiary Hearing was conducted from March 19thto June 29, 2018.
On December 6,2018 my Motion for a new Hearing was denied by my Trial Judge.
On January 14, 2019 my Attorney Micheal Dezsi filed an issue against my Trial Judge for abuse of
discretion.
On October 9, 2019 it was denied by the Michigan Court of Appeals.
On March 18, 2020 the Michigan Supreme Court remanded my case back to the Michigan Court of Appeals for leave to Appeal and Oral Arguments.
During my time in prison, I have successfully completed over 27 classes. Out of those 27 classes, I have facilitated 14. I am a skilled Barber and I have maintained employment between 2005 until 2020.
CASE SUMMARY
According to the court record, People v. Thelonious Searcy (Case No 04-12890 fc.), Thelonious Searcy (a.k.a. “Skinnyman") was convicted of First Degree Premeditated Murder charges under MCL 750.316, for the murder of Jamal Segars. He was also convicted of Assault with the Intent to Murder of Brian Minner, under MCL 750.83, and a felony firearm under MCL 750.2276.
On May 23, 2005 Thelonious Searcy was sentenced to life without parole:
· on Count 1 - Premeditated Murder under MCL 750.316, he was sentenced to life in prison.
· On Count 2 - Assault with the intent to commit murder, he was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison.
· On Count 3 Felony Firearm, this charge is to run consecutive to Counts 1 and 2. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
The Sentencing and Trial Judge was Timothy Michael Kenny. Kenny is now the Chief Circuit Judge of Wayne County.
The Prosecuting Attorney was Patrick Muscat who is currently the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Wayne County.
Searcy’s Defense Attorney was Robert Mitchell, who is now deceased.
This crime occurred on September 5, 2004 on the northeast side of Detroit (on Withorn and Conners, in front of the Detroit City Airport) during the All Black Party.
The Wayne County Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s theory was :
The victim Jamal Segars was murdered in a case of mistaken identity. The Prosecutor believed Segars was killed behind an ongoing feud between Searcy and a street informant named Deanthony (D-Ant) Witcher. The Prosecutor used Witcher as his star witness, under MCL 404B. This particular case law is used to established motive or transferred intent. It also deals with previous bad acts and a person's character.
Fourteen years after receiving his life sentence, Searcy filed a Freedom of Information Act request, with the Legal Department of the Detroit City County Building, for the following documents and/or information:
· Entire homicide file
· All tips disclosed
· All 911 response audio from September 5, 2004
· Homicide miscellaneous file
· Homicide ledger notes
· Photo arrays with potential suspects
· All police reports
· Homicide progressive notes.
The name of the Clerk who furnished the information was Tonja R. Long. The receipt number is 14-830531860. The person who paid for this information is Edna Richardson. The price was $505.00.
CASE SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
Upon receiving the information, Searcy found that the Prosecutor’s star witness, Deanthony Witcher, was caught with a 9mm firearm on November 18, 2004 on the East mile and Hoover.
On November 30, 2004 Searcy was arrested. On the same day, the gun case against Witcher was dropped. This fact prompted Searcy to write to his first Appellant Attorney, Randy E. Davidson. In the letter to Davidson, Searcy asked him if he, or any investigator working on behalf of the People v. Thelonious Searcy, ever received a Police Report concerning Deanthony Witcher getting caught with a loaded firearm.
On March 31, 2014 Davidson wrote back stating he had received Searcy’s letters dated March 5 and March 19, 2014. Davidson confirmed he had reviewed Searcy’s file and that he had not received, from any source, a Police Report concerning Deathony Witcher getting caught with a loaded firearm.
On August 22, 2015 Searcy received a letter from a Detroit Hitman named Vincent Smothers, a Level 4 prisoner who was incarcerated at Alger Correctional Facility, Munising, Michigan. In Smothers's letter, he admitted to his involvement in the case in which Searcy is currently incarcerated. At that time, Searcy was incarcerated as a Level 2 prisoner at Macomb Correctional facility, Newhaven, Michigan.
On December 10, 2015 Smothers provided an Affidavit while at Macomb Correctional Facility.
In 2016, Smothers provided a map and an audio confession surrounding the murder of Segars.
In 2018 he testified to the information disclosed in the Affidavit.
Vincent Smothers’s co-defendant also testified to knowing Smothers was involved in this murder.
During the People v Thelonious Searcy Evidentiary Hearing, it was factually proven that the Trial Prosecutor, Patrick Muscat, deliberately lied to the jurors, about not knowing what type of caliber weapon had been used in the crime.
Please refer to the Trial Transcript dated June 5, 2005 - page 89 lines 5-13. Trial Exhibit 23 for the People, identifies the bullets found in the deceased’s body.
Even with this mountain of information, the Trial Judge Timothy Michael Kenny, denied Searcy his release and a new trial.
If you need more information regarding this case, or wish to reach out to Thelonious with support and/or assistance, please write directly to him at the address at the top of this webpage, alternatively contact can be made by email using the JPay system.
Thelonious Searcy