CrimeJun 06, 2024
2 Men Found Guilty in 2022 Murder of Detroit-Area JewelerCrimeJun 14, 2024
2 Men Sentenced to Life in 2022 Murder of Detroit-Area Jeweler
In court, Daniel Hutchinson’s loved ones remembered the jeweler as a giver, a role model, and a leader.
Pontiac, Mich.—The two men convicted in the June 2022 murder of 47-year-old Daniel “Hutch” Hutchinson, owner of Detroit-area independent Hutch’s Jewelry, have both been sentenced to life in prison.
Marco Bisbikis—who was Hutchinson’s attorney—and Roy Larry were found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, and felony firearm charges related to the murder.
During the sentencing, shared via video on YouTube, Bisbikis told Judge Nanci Grant that he believes he has been wrongfully convicted and plans to appeal.
"I will be back, and I will be able to prove my innocence," he said.
Hutchinson owned and operated Hutch’s Jewelry in Oak Park, Michigan, a Detroit suburb.
He was shot to death on June 1, 2022, while sitting in his GMC Yukon Denali. Marisa, his wife, was seated next to him in the SUV and was struck in the leg by bullet fragments.
Bisbikis contracted to have both of them killed after writing himself into the couple’s will, while Larry pulled the trigger, according to evidence presented at trial and reported on by numerous news outlets.
The Hutchinsons’ store was doing well during the pandemic, bringing in millions a year, said Marisa during her earlier testimony, and the couple was not reporting large cash transactions to the IRS. (Under federal law, cash transactions totaling more than $10,000 must be reported to the IRS by filing a Form 8300.)
She testified that their lawyer Bisbikis stored the cash in a cabinet for them, setting up a trust and paying off their expenses with the money.
Unbeknownst to the couple, she said, Bisbikis wrote himself in as the third beneficiary of their will and trust, meaning he would get everything if they both died.
Related stories will be right here …
Marco Bisbikis—who was Hutchinson’s attorney—and Roy Larry were found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, and felony firearm charges related to the murder.
During the sentencing, shared via video on YouTube, Bisbikis told Judge Nanci Grant that he believes he has been wrongfully convicted and plans to appeal.
"I will be back, and I will be able to prove my innocence," he said.
Hutchinson owned and operated Hutch’s Jewelry in Oak Park, Michigan, a Detroit suburb.
He was shot to death on June 1, 2022, while sitting in his GMC Yukon Denali. Marisa, his wife, was seated next to him in the SUV and was struck in the leg by bullet fragments.
Bisbikis contracted to have both of them killed after writing himself into the couple’s will, while Larry pulled the trigger, according to evidence presented at trial and reported on by numerous news outlets.
The Hutchinsons’ store was doing well during the pandemic, bringing in millions a year, said Marisa during her earlier testimony, and the couple was not reporting large cash transactions to the IRS. (Under federal law, cash transactions totaling more than $10,000 must be reported to the IRS by filing a Form 8300.)
She testified that their lawyer Bisbikis stored the cash in a cabinet for them, setting up a trust and paying off their expenses with the money.
Unbeknownst to the couple, she said, Bisbikis wrote himself in as the third beneficiary of their will and trust, meaning he would get everything if they both died.
Roberta Hutchinson, the victim’s mother, and his sister, Martha Hutchinson, addressed the court.
"Marco, you're evil. You murdered my mother's only son and my big brother. You befriended him and then out of greed, you betrayed him,” she said.
“All you had to do was tell him that you spent his money and he'd be alive, and you'd be free.”
Martha also shared with the court her memories of her brother.
“Danny made people feel special. He was a giver, a role model, a leader. Danny was compassionate. He was respected, and he was very much loved,” she said.
The convictions and sentencing of Bisbikis and Larry follow guilty pleas entered by two other defendants in the case, Darnell Larry—who is Roy Larry’s cousin and was given a deal to testify at the trial—and Angelo Raptoplous. Both pleaded guilty to solicitation of murder.
A fifth suspect, Phillip Sumpter of Ohio, was arraigned on a charge of conspiracy to murder late last year, The Oakland Press reported.
The judge commented on the complexity of the case during the sentencing.
“Every time I thought I saw something different or unusual, you all ratcheted it up one more step. I try to tell people about this case and they think I'm talking about a movie,” she said.
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