UPDATE 05/16/08 - Alicia Hartner, Mike Wellwood and Phillip Morris were arraigned yesterday in Wayne County Court. Alicia Hartner will be tried apart from Mike Wellwood and Phillip Morris. Details at the bottom of the article.
Mike Wellwood, Alicia Hartner, Phillip Morris
Riverview, MI — Somebody tell me why a guy named Phillip Morris needs to jack cigarettes, ’cause I just don’t get that. Alicia Hartner, 18, is accused of being the ringleader of a bizarre little threesome consisting of herself, her live-in boyfriend Mike Wellwood, 19, and her sort of boyfriend Phillip Morris, 22. The trio is charged with the murders of Dennis Langley and Jack Mascow, both 62, last week.
Alicia Hartner and her men are high-school rejects working menial jobs. The victims, Langley and Mascow, owned a vending company that distributed cigarettes. Dennis Langley had been the only father figure Alicia Hartner ever knew, supporting Alicia and her mother financially for a number of years. Although Langley and Alicia’s mother never married, he continued to funnel cash their way even after the breakup. Langley was generous to fault and kept large amounts of cigarette stock and cash in the house, which he shared with his business partner Jack Mascow.
The robbery was supposed to go down as planned last Wednesday night: break in, kill Dennis Langley, steal his stuff and his cash, leave. Mascow was not expected to be there, but when he surprised the stoned trio they stabbed, beat and shot him. Then they went into garage, where they stabbed Langley in the skull and liver. After stealing about two grand in cash and a bunch of smokes, the young murderers torched the garage and left in Langley’s white work van, which they also set aflame a few blocks away. Because they’re smart criminals like that.
Firefighters found Mascow’s body upstairs while fighting house fire at about 11:30 p.m Wednesday. On Thursday, police officers went back to the house and found Langley in the garage. After getting over 100 telephone tips, Alicia Hartner was fingered as the bad girl and arrested on Friday. The bozo boys were arrested on Saturday. Even Hartner’s mother has been questioned in this case, although she has not been charged at this point.
Let’s just get these felons’ Myspaces out there, shall we? Alicia Hartner’s is here and is definitely the most entertaining of the bunch. She has pics of her pipe and her friends and her friend’s five year old son pretending to down multiple fifths of liquor. That’s hawt. Interestingly, although she lived with Mike Wellwood, his Myspace is much lower-key with few details and almost no friends. And here’s Phillip Morris, who is kind enough to have wonderful pics of high Alicia, high Mike, and high himself. In not a single picture is he sober. (and thanks Amber for Phil’s link!)
All three killers were in court on Tuesday for arraignment on two counts of felony murder, two counts of first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, one count of first-degree home invasion, one count of arson and one count of felony use of a firearm. All three pleaded not guilty, and Wellwood and Morris cried like the little bitches they are. Hartner showed little emotion and told a judge she needed to get out because she “had a job interview.” Um, that murder thing might make it hard to get that Taco Bell gig, Alicia.
UPDATE 4/30/08 - Alicia Hartner, Mike Wellwood and Phillip “Free Phil” Morris were in court Tuesday for preliminary hearings. Testimony was contradictory on Alicia. Detective Scott Galeski said that “Ms. Hartner was more concerned about her well-being. Her reaction was blank.” But a prisoner in the cell next to Alicia’s refuted that, saying that Alicia cried and insisted she was innocent. Previous witness statements have indicated, though, that Alicia copped to the whole murder, so that remains up in the air.
Witness Joseph Vella, who was tesitfying to get out of drug charges, said that Hartner and Wellwood told him about their plan to rob Dennis Langley prior to the act. Then again, he said, they also told him they were gonna roll a homeless guy for pot to pay their rent, so he didn’t take them seriously.
Not a great deal was reportedly said about Phillip Morris. It’ll be very interesting to see what happens on Thursday afternoon, when Judge Randy Kalmbach is set to rule on whether the trio should be bound over for trial. Will Free Phil be freed? I don’t know, but I’m waiting to find out. Maybe some of his family can come let us know how things went.
UPDATE 5/01/08 - Judge Randy Kalmbach of the 27th District Court in Wyandotte ruled this afternoon that all three defendants will remain in jail and be bound over for trial in Wayne County.
In the meantime, check Alicia Hartner’s new Magic Jail Hair:
UPDATE 5/16/08 - Alicia Hartner, Mike Wellwood and Phillip “Free Phil” Morris were arraigned in Wayne County Court yesterday. According to family sources, Alicia will face a jury on her own, and Mike and Phil will share a jury and be tried together. There is a docket hearing scheduled for June 20, after which the trial is scheduled for sometime in September. All three suspects remain in custody.
Thanks, Nikky, for the update.
Bec, I don’t know how they could not feel betrayed. I only know the families have shown... - 
Now that is a sick fuck that can sit talking to the parents and more likely than not be... - 
My understanding is that the Bakers talked to them that afternoon leaving a very short few... - 
That’s right. I was confused. Now I understand. Thanks, Meg, for your clarification and thank... - 
For anyone who is a member of a Missionary Baptist community or has any other kind of close... - 
Oh, I understand and I think you’re probably right about Couty. There’s a difference... - 
261 responses so far ↓
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251
FREEPHIL
May 14, 2008 at 2:23 pm -Mike was at Phillip’s house until a little before 10pm the night of the murder. Phillip is denying that he has any involvement as he never left the house that night.
Yes and Yes, she and Dave are both alibi’s for Phillip’s whereabouts that whole night with the exception of about 15-20 minutes when Phillip was cleaning the house and Dave was in the living room with Phillips’ step-son
In her “bullshit confession” she says that Phillip pulled up behind the van and stuff was loaded in his trunk. That is EXACTLY what was read off of her “confession” in court
252
FREEPHIL
May 14, 2008 at 2:37 pm -Ok, as a family member (who is not directly involved) I was able to stay in the court room for the entire proceeding and yes I did hear Dave’s entire interview. Dave stated that he did NOT know if Phillip left the house or not but that he had stated earlier in the evening that he needed to clean the house before Jen got home from work. When he asked Dave to keep an eye on the kid it was so he could clean the rest of the house up.
The timeline was messed up both by what Dave answered to the prosecutor and the prosecutor herself. Dave’s statement says that a little AFTER 10pm, Phillip asked him to keep an eye on the kid. Dave said he looked at the clock at 10:30pm and was dosing off at that time and heard Phillip tell the kid to get off Dave while he was trying to sleep so from the time Phillip asked him to keep any eye on the kid to 10:30 couldn’t have been more than 20 minutes.
Dave also stated when he wokr up at 11pm that Phillip was asleep on the couch and his shirt was a little dirty (from cleaning house maybe?). The prosecutor TRIED to make Dave say that he KNEW that Phillip left the house but Dave said he did not know that as he did not see Phillip leave.
The news papers and TV news are not being completely accurate with their depictions of what goes on in court, I wish I could take my own recording device in with me.
I will let you guys know what happens in court tomorrow and thanks for all the kind and honest words from most of you
It really is hard going through all of this knowing my brother is innocent and not being able to do anything but wait.
FREE PHIL!!
253
MizRedHead
May 14, 2008 at 3:01 pm -What about the alleged weapons that Dave saw on Phillip’s bed?
The article in the paper stated that Dave testified that Phil DID leave the house and asked Dave to watch his son. The article says absolutely nothing about Dave falling asleep, or Phil sleeping on the couch.
If Phil was in fact cleaning the apartment, it would have to be a pretty big place, I would think, in order for his friend to not know if he was still there. I have been in those Woodhaven apartments, they are not that big.
Also, if all three were arested at the same time as was stated by FreePhil earlier and Alicia gave her “bullshit confession” while she was in custody, why was Phil arrested? What precipitated an arrest warrant?
All seems pretty fishy to me. I understand wanting to clear your family member of an awful crime, but respect the intelligence of people who are interested and keeping up with what’s happening in this case.
254
temporaryname
May 15, 2008 at 8:21 am -I am with mizredhead on this all the way. After reading that last detroit freepress article, I kinda feel bad for FREEPHILL. It seems like she’s just 100% sure of her brother’s innocence purely because it’s her little brother and he couldn’t possibly have helped out in this crime, right? My heart goes out to all the families involved…If I was FREEPHILL, I’d probably want to feel the same way about my bro. Regardless, you can’t just believe him because he’s scared shitless and say’s it’s true.
First of all, what’s up with Mike just happening to hang out with Phil immediately before he killed those men.
Secondly, what about the array of weapons laid out on the bed or whatever? Why randomly that night? The fact that Dave was sure that one of the weapons was missing when Phil left (cleaning…hah) is a dead giveaway to me. That tied in with Mike hanging out right before…
Last, that apartment must have been messy! Whenever I clean a room, I don’t end up with a shirt that is noticeably soiled. But I guess it could happen… Still, I don’t clean like a ninja either. If I was cleaning enough to get dirty, I’m assuming that my friend who was one or two rooms away in the same apartment would hear the commotion and be 100% positive that I was home.
255
if_the_shoe_fits
May 15, 2008 at 11:50 pm -I find it peculiar that Dave took such notice that Phil’s shirt was soiled. Seems odd that he could remember that specific detail and provide testimony at a later time.
It must have struck him as odd. Under normal circumstances a soiled shirt wouldn’t make an impression at all.
Also, I’ve heard from people who know the family, who were in the court room during Dave’s testimony who say that the news herald account of the testimony is qutie accurate.
Lastly, We are talking about 8 counts.
We still haven’t heard what Phil’s girlfriend really had to say. Will she testify? What time did she get home?
256
FREEPHIL
May 16, 2008 at 4:41 pm -My remark way earlier in this thread (really soon after this all happened) stated that they were all arrested at the same time, because that is what my mother was told by the police when they came to her house the first time to question her about my brother. We later found out that Alicia was arrested and the boys were arrested the next day, not at the same time as I earlier was told.
As for respecting people, I have not been disrespectful to anyone that was not disrespectful to me or my family. I am trying to provide as much information as I can to the people who are here reading this and will continue to post updates until my brothers name is cleared and he gets to come home with us!
UPDATE from court: They have seperated Alicia from Phillip and Michael for trial. The boys will have one jury and Alicia will have a seperate jury since her “confession” is only going to be used against her and her ONLY. Our lawyer has advised that it is better for my brother that way. There will be a docket hearing June 20th and then IF they are going to have a trial it will start in September. There will probably be nothing new between now and the June 20th hearing so I will check back closer to that time.
thanks,
Nikky
257
impqueen
May 16, 2008 at 4:45 pm -Nikky,
Thanks for the update! I’ll update the article as well. I kept looking for news and not finding any, so thanks again.
258
michelle
May 16, 2008 at 5:43 pm -Fishy is the word. Fishy as a whores cootch after weekend liberty.
While it’s true, I don’t know the whole story I find it hard to believe the Prosecuting Attorney would keep someone in jail without evidence.
259
Ashley22H
May 17, 2008 at 12:29 am -FREEPHIL-
I hope it all works out for you, your brother, and your family. I was reading on CNN about a man who was cleared from DNA evidence after 27 years of being wrongly accused for murder. Mistakes happen on a daily basis in our justice system. It’s natural human error.
As Americans we are supposed to remember….innocent until proven guilty.
I hope for your all’s sake that he is innocent. But obviously they (the prosecutors) have enough evidence to charge him with these crimes. There’s an old saying that when you hang out with people who are filthy…you become filthy yourself. Phillip was obviously doing things that were illegal (drugs) prior to these charges. Drugs change who you are and make you do things that you wouldn’t do if you were sober. Like someone said in an earlier posting….I find it hard to believe they would keep an innocent person behind bars.
I’m not judging Phillip or anyone involved in this case. I hope that if Phillip is innocent, his name will be cleared soon. Eventually time will allow the facts of this case to come to light. Please keep us updated on the case. Not only is Phillip being charged with crimes….but now the entire family must deal with this as well. My thoughts are with you all.
Not only is there the victims in this case….but now the families of the people charged with the crimes become victims dealing with their loved one’s charges. It’s a very hard situation for all parties involved.
260
FREEPHIL
Jul 1, 2008 at 11:29 am -Just a quick update.
Court June 20th: Something having to do with one of the motions that one of the lawyers wanted filed caused the court date to be adjourned until August 1st.
261
thepooh5
Jul 1, 2008 at 12:26 pm -Thanks FREEPHIL for the update.
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