Alicia Hartner Controls the Minds of Men
UPDATE 12/23/08 - FreePhil was RIGHT! Yes, denizens, it’s true. The family members of Phillip Morris, Mike Wellwood and Alicia Hartner have much to be happy about for Christmas. The murder charges against Phil, Mike and Alicia (!) have been dropped. It appears that I, your loyal ImpQueen, was WRONG. W-R-O-N-G WRONG. So what next? Is Doyle Palmer to blame for the murders of Dennis Langley and Jack Mascow, or will their killers ever be found? I don’t know. All I know is that this is one story I’m happy to revise. Happy Holidays, FreePhil! More details after the jump.
Mike Wellwood, Alicia Hartner, Phillip Morris
Riverview, MI, March 6, 2008 — 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 tlittle bitches. Â 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.
UPDATE 08/06/08 - A fourth suspect in the murders of Dennis Langley and Jack Mascow has been arrested. Doyle Palmer, 41 (Myspace) is being held without bail in the Wayne County Jail. At this time, it is unclear what affect, if any, Palmer’s arrest will have on the trials of Alicia Hartner, Mike Wellwood, and Phillip Morris.
Palmer, a single father of two, was arrested primarily based on DNA evidence from a bloody tissue found in the Langley home. At this time, it does appear that he may drive a silver car very similar to that of Philip Morris, who is believed to have provided a gun and a getaway car for the robbery-turned-murder; this evidence, according to Phil’s family, may exonerate him.  At this time, however, all four suspects are being held without bail pending a hearing on August 29.
Here’s Doyle Palmer with his son, taken this summer:
Does Palmer hold the key to the Langley/Mascow murders? Or is he just an unlucky dude who got a nosebleed? As always, we’ll update as information becomes available.
UPDATE 12/23/08 - FreePhil was RIGHT! Yes, denizens, it’s true. The family members of Phillip Morris, Mike Wellwood and Alicia Hartner have much to be happy about for Christmas. The murder charges against Phil, Mike and Alicia (!) have been dropped. It appears that I, your loyal ImpQueen, was WRONG. W-R-O-N-G WRONG. So what next? Is Doyle Palmer to blame for the murders of Dennis Langley and Jack Mascow, or will their killers ever be found? I don’t know. All I know is that this is one story I’m happy to revise. Happy Holidays, FreePhil!
According to the statement released by prosecutor Kym Worthy, “We are dismissing the cases because during trial preparation it was discovered that two of our main witnesses on these three defendants — not on (Palmer’s) cases — were discovered to be untruthful in material ways and were inconsistent with the physical evidence. We simply will not proceed at this time.”
And yes, for the record, this is twice I’ve been wrong about someone’s guilt. TWICE. Not counting the one time I was wrong about someone’s innocence. I think I hear Morbid laughing.
So what kind of stuff do you put on “magic cooter toast”? Dick pickles? And can you make a sandwich of it, or do you only get one slice?
Well Phil should have went to the police immediately if he knew what they just did. I am sure there must have been blood and other evidence. He deserves to be in jail.
I don’t think it could be put any simpler.
For Phil’s family’s sake, I hope that he was innocent, unaware, and nowhere near the scene of the crime.
However, if he was driving the getaway car, he deserves to be sentenced as an accomplice to murder. Plain and simple.
“Stupid,” “naive,” and “easily influenced by peer pressure” do not a good defense make when a human life has been taken.
That’s the kind of defense you use when you’ve been busted hanging with drug dealers in the wrong place at the wrong time, or some such petty crime. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.
Let me first start off by saying that my heart truly goes out to Dennis and Jack’s friends and family. From what I have read and heard from people who knew them personally, they were kind-hearted, sweet, caring, and loving people.
Yes, another FreePhil. It’s hard when you’re in a situation like this - you want to believe that someone you love and care about is innocent of such a horrible crime, but when the media portrays them as a “heinous” monster it makes you think. If I wasn’t directly involved, would I view this situation the same way? Of course not, I’d be at home mourning the loss of two wonderful people and complaining that those three should be locked up for life.
I’ve known Phil since the day he was born. We were extremely close growing up. I have fond memories of times when we were together watching Sesame Street and, when we got older, talking about our new crush of the week. I would not defend someone that I thought was capable of committing murder, or being an accomplice in this case. Phil has had his fair share of “questionable” friends in the past, but I have never known him to lie, cheat, steal, or be violent in any way. He is such a sweet person - making friends everywhere he went and trying to help people out whenever he can.
In fact, I’ve had some questionable friends myself and I’m a straight-A alumni from the University of Michigan. And that got me thinking, too…
If one of my friends called me and needed a ride, I’d be there in a heartbeat. No questions asked. Phil’s a stand-up guy, and I’m sure (if he was even driving them anywhere that night - which they’ve yet to prove) that was the case - he was just helping out some friends.
Now, there is a fine line: IF (and that’s a mighty big IF) Phil had picked them up and he could obviously see blood or any distress on them at all, then everyone is right - he should have gone to the police immediately. Those two seem like the type that would brag about something this horrible, and if that is the case Phil should be punished for not coming forward. But, how many of you would have ratted on your friends? I am, by no means, condoning that decision - but put yourself in his shoes.
There is another way this could have gone IF Phil was actually driving some sort of “getaway” care - Alicia could have composed herself enough (as she’s done in court the past few times) to pretend like everything was fine and dandy. Phil would have been none the wiser. Now, according to state law the act of driving a getaway vehicle is punishable by law. I guess I’d be in jail if I was in Phil’s shoes if scenario #2 was the truth.
Another thing - someone else mentioned another Philip who looked very similar to Phil Morris and who was close to Alicia (her brother I believe?). Anyone ever think that maybe she’s blaming Phil Morris to clear her brother? For whatever reason, doesn’t really matter - she’s manipulative enough to pull it off, I bet.
The prosecutor doesn’t have a case against Phil, but this new Downriver Task Force is hell-bent on getting all three convicted. I know what happened when that Detective searched Phil’s mother’s home. I know what he said. You can’t convince me that what he did was right, legal, or moral in any way. I think that they were in such a hurry to get suspects in custody, that they botched it up and now they’re trying to make it look like they were doing the right thing all along. Explain to me then how they couldn’t even get the discovery and paperwork that was due to the defense lawyers (Phil’s in particular) until more than a month after the initial discovery was uncovered. Seems more than a little fishy to me.
Bottom line is this: Phil’s lawyer hasn’t had the opportunity to clear his name and present his case because the main focus is on Wellwood and Hartner - the main culprits here. Barely anything has been said for or against Phil in any of the hearings thus far.
Wellwood and Hartner should be punished as harshly as the court system will allow, no doubt. I think the prosecuting attorney should make sure of that.
His life has been ruined by this. It’s definitely not “innocent until proven guilty” in this justice system. Phil will have to get as far away from here to live a normal life once he is released. He’s spent nearly 2 months in jail already. That doesn’t give back two lives, but is it necessary to take one more? His friends and family are staying strong behind him because they know that he could not commit murder. His lawyer is confident. They are confident. Phil is confident. He will come home.
FreePhil4,
Thanks for your intelligently written, articulate post. You make some good points. It’s going to be interesting tomorrow to see what Judge Kalmbach ends up ordering for Phil.
Welcome to the site, and thanks for posting!
I have been having an issue with getting a reset on my password so I haven’t been on here in a couple weeks. I finally got it straightened out this morning.
I went and visited my brother last night and we discussed what happened in court on Tuesday. He is confident that his lawyer did a great job of representing him as do I and the rest of my family. There was no physical evidence whatsoever presented in court against any of the 3 defendants which I found hard to believe but I guess that stuff comes out in the actual trial. The whole process on Tuesday was the prosecutor questioning “witnesses”. Witnesses who included a Fire Chief, a Detective, a friend of Mike & Alicia’s Joe Vella (I believe) and Phillip’s friend Dave who was at Phillip’s house the night the crime was committed.
Of afore mentioned witnesses, the Fire Chief and Detective spoke on the arson and one the circumstances surrounding Alicia’s confession. This Vella character was a JOKE seriously. He was arrested in connection with the crime and held for 2 days, during his arrest drugs, paraphernalia, and trafficing items were found and siezed AND Vella had 2 outstanding warrants but miraculously was not charged with the drug stuff OR the outstanding warrants (in exchange for his testimony maybe??). In addition to that, Vella also gave 3 seperate statements to the police and all 3 statements were different with the most recent being what he said in court but none of which implicate my brother.
When Phillip’s friend Dave was questioned, the prosecutor asked Dave straight out if Phillip left the apartment at any time while he was there and Dave’s answer was that he did not know, yet the prosecutor basically badgered Dave (with numerous objections) and repeatedly asked him if Phillip left and Dave said over and over that he wasn’t sure. Then later on the prosecutor tried to impeach her own witness (Dave) because of an inconsistency that aparently she didn’t notice until Tuesday in court.
There were so many things wrong with court on Tuesday, it was like a circus. The prosecutor and lawyers and judge were all talking over one another, there was really no order and the oddest thing I have ever seen in court, an objection would be made by one of the attorneys or prosecutor and the judge would let them continue with whatever was going on and THEN make a ruling on the objection. I thought the whole purpose of the objection was to ask that the question not be asked to the witness, not ok let the witness answer and besed on his answer the judge then decides if the objection is over ruled or sustained. But then again, I am not a lawyer or a judge so what do I know right?? (Smug comment)
2 more points real quick and I will shush for now. First Phillip told me last night that while we were in court on Tuesday, Alicia told him that she told her lawyers that neither Phillip nor Mike had anything to do with this. ODD???? You decide. Secondly, when my sister and I were exiting our bench in the courtroom, we were both teary eyed as once again our brother did not get to come home with us and the prosecutor said, and I quote because both my sister and I heard her, “Oh Boo Hoo, Poor Phil”. I personally think that was completely unprofessional of her on every level. All I can say about a person like that is again, God don’t like Ugly!
FREE PHIL TODAY!!!!!
Not to mention probly high as hell and regaurdless he was involved in the robbery! He deserves to do time even if its a lesser charge then accomplice to murder!
FreePhil,
Thanks for the rundown on court Tuesday. I’m sure that was rough on your family. It does sound Like Vella has something to gain in exchange for his testimony - he got a sweet deal, and that does kinda ding his credibility.
I dunno, I have to say I think it is just possible that Phil will either face lesser charges or none. I wouldn’t have said that before seeing the witness reports in prelim, but you may have made a believer out of me. If all he did was drive the getaway car and he really did not know - or, as family has stated, he didn’t drive at all - then I can’t see how there can be enough evidence to hold him for trial on murder charges.
If he did drive the getaway car, and he did know what Alicia and Mike had done, then I can see a lesser charge of aiding and abetting or something like that - but even so, it doesn’t sound like anyone is willing to testify that Phillip was even there. If that’s the case, I hope his bond is lowered enough that you can get him home.
I tell you what - if Phil gets to come home, or gets his charges lowered, I will edit my article to say so and will flat out tell you I was wrong about him. I have no problem doing that, and I hope I get to apologize to your family later today.
Good luck, and let us know as soon as you can!
Big deal that Alicia told Phil (and why was she allowed to talk to him anyway) that she told her lawyer that Mike and Phil weren’t involved. She is obviously a liar (among other things) and is contradicting what she said earlier. The police must have gotten Phil’s name from somewhere.
And another thing, why wouldn’t Phil’s friend be able to confirm that Phil never left the apartment that night? I am sorry this just does not add up.
Maybe thats the goal here!! You know if there is no order, and no real evidence, and a whole bunch of lies flyin around the courtroom they could always rule a mistrial. I would think anyway.
another thing you are absolutely right. They shouldn’t be having any contact with eachother in the mist of all this..
CC, NONE of it adds up. That is the biggest problem with all of this. The police TOLD Phillip that Alicia told them who helped her and then when she wrote out this “confession” she idicates that Mike did all the killing, robbing and arson of the house while she “hid in the kitchen”. Her entire confession is bologna! She is manipulative and a liar, plain and simple.
As for why she was allowed to talk to him, there was a total lack of order in the court. She talked to him, he did not respond. At one point Mike’s dad was sitting in the front row of the court, less than a foot from his son and they had at least 3 short conversations that I personally observed and nothing was done to stop it.
The point here I think everyone is forgetting or overlooking is that our judicial system in the United States of America says that you are Innocent Until Proven Guilty. That has NEVER once been the case here.
I understand and sympathize with the victims families and sitting in the court room hearing first hand what was done to them affected me in a way I could never have thought it would. This was a very heinous crime and the perpetrators deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, but, my brother had nothing to do with this crime and does not deserve to have spent the past 2 months locked behind bars and treated the way he has been treated. We really just want the WHOLE TRUTH to come out so his name is cleared and those responsible are punished.
As for Dave not being sure if Phillip left, Dave was in the living room playing with Phillip’s step-son at the time and stated that he heard a door and did not see Phillip (for what amounts to about 15-20 minutes which is what was overlooked by the prosecutor, hence the trying to impeach) and Phillip did in fact shut a door, the bedroom door and proceeded to clean house before his fiance came home from work. Dave couldn’t say for sure that Phillip left or did not leave as he did not see him walk out the front door.
According to Dave’s testimony, Mike left Phillip’s house right before 10pm. About 10 after 10pm, Phillip asked Dave to keep an eye on his step-son so that he could clean up the house before his fiance got home from work. Dave stated that he last looked at the clock at 10:30pm and at that time started to dose off and remembers hearing Phillip tell his step-son to get off Dave’s back cuz he was going to sleep. When Dave woke up at 11pm, Phillip was sleeping on the couch. So Phillip was missing from Dave’s sight from 10:10pm to right about 10:30pm. This just goes along with an earlier statement that was made about time. Phillip could not have possibly done what Alicia’s confession says he did in the approximate 20 minutes he was not in Dave’s sight.
Her “confession” says that Phil came and picked them up and that Mike loaded all the stuff in the van into Phil’s trunk and that they dropped the gun in the river and took the stuff they stole to my mother’s house. There isn’t even enough time in that frame for my brother to have gone from his house to my moms house let alone all these other stops along the way. Not to mention, I am at my moms house daily to visit with my nephew and there was none of the things that were stolen ever at my moms house and that I do know for a fact!
Court is at 3pm … FREE PHIL TODAY!!!
If he did drive the getaway car, and he did know what Alicia and Mike had done, then I can see a lesser charge of aiding and abetting or something like that…
Actually, seeing as how some are hellbent to prosecute all three as some “package deal”, I believe driving a getaway car while being knowledgable about the crime may qualify for a felony murder charge.
FREEPHIL - I’m sure it seems as though Phillip is not being considered innocent until proven guilty, but that is because that phrase pertains to the burden of proof, which appears to be in Phillip’s favor (assuming your folks are speaking accurately about the inconsistencies witnessed in testamony). It is the prosecutor’s job to paint the defendant as guilty, which is easiest to do if the prosecutor believes he is guilty.
“Presumed” innocent does not translate into “treated” innocent. This will only get worse during the trial phrase, I’m afraid…But, persevere. “Beyond reasonable doubt” can be very difficult to pull off in a case like this.
OK - someone catch the dumb pooh up on this Vella character. I understand he is supposed to be a witness. I understand that he was intially questioned in the murders. What I don’t understand is where was the Vella person actually at to witness anything and why didn’t he come forward immediately? And, how did he go from a suspect to star witness to avoid prosecution for drugs and outstanding warrents? Why is the Vella character suddenly such a “reliable” and “credible” witness?
I have to agree the cops have botched something or didn’t take the time to do their jobs properly. It wouldn’t be the first time a “witness was created” to corroberate the cops story and case in court.
I hope the FREEPHIL’s are back today with an update on court.
And to all the Phil’s thanks for keeping us up to date.
You are right, that was very unprofessional and totally uncalled for. You/his family members are not on trial nor should the prosecutor take cheap shots at uninvolved persons that just happen to be related to Phil. That prosecutor is an ass. I would see if I could talk to an “ethics committee” of some sort about her behavior.
I just find it very hard to believe that Phil has been kept in jail for two months on the word of this Alicia character.
It would seem to me there has to be more evidence against someone than just a confession from someone else who is also accused of the crime.
Now, I am no lawyer, but arresting a completely innocent man and holding him in jail for two months (without bond?) - based on heresay, seems really outrageous.
If that is in fact the case, I can see why Phil’s family is so upset.
I just find that so hard to believe.
Good point MIZREDHEAD how is he being held on a confession when they were all arrested at the same time. If you go back and read the initial story and the story FreePhil has said it doesn’t make any sense anyway. I saw a statement made that Phil don’t drive, well then why does he have a car for Alicia to barrow?? Its confusing but im gonna stick around to see the outcome.
Now, I am no lawyer, but arresting a completely innocent man and holding him in jail for two months (without bond?) - based on heresay, seems really outrageous.
If that is in fact the case, I can see why Phil’s family is so upset.
I just find that so hard to believe.
I’m no lawyer, either…But I did intern for a public defense attorney for a period of time and, I’ll tell you, this type of thing happens more often than you’d care to believe.
Consider how many people are found not guilty. Those people are often held in jail until the verdict, and many of them were never guilty at all. Now, those of us in the peanut gallery can’t know for sure, but based on the posts of the FREEPHILs, the prosecution’s case is largely circumstantial. A circumstantial case is certainly enough to bring charges and keep someone incarcerated, even if it’s not enough to eventually convict them.
I believe that.I was just reading an article about a man being released from prison after 18 yrs when a DNA test proved him innocent. Being you have experience do u believe a mistrial is possible?
Because Phillip’s family views this thread, I’m hesitant to give any opinion that may cause false hope. I am not in that courtroom, so any statement I make could be wildly inaccurate.
That being said, I think a mistrial is unlikely. Mistrials are called when either a procedural error was made or if a jury is hung. If the statements made by FREEPHILers are true about the circumstances surrounding the crime, I find an acquittal or a conviction on lesser charges to be much more likely.
I understand what you are saying, ATHENA, I am just having a hard time believing that someone completely innocent with no knowledge of the crime whatsoever is being held this long on heresay.
Also, this is the first I have heard that Mike was at Phil’s house immediately prior to the crime taking place (if I am understanding the previous post from Free Phil). I find it hard to believe there was nothing mentioned about what Mike and Alicia were going to do that night.
guess i watch to much law & order =)
I understand what you are saying, ATHENA, I am just having a hard time believing that someone completely innocent with no knowledge of the crime whatsoever is being held this long on heresay.
Oh, sure. Generally, you’d be correct. However, a murderer implicating another individual as an accomplice holds a little more water than “hearsay”, which is generally regarded to be third-party knowledge and is usually inadmissable in court. You see, if Alicia says Phil was there, she is acting as a witness, essentially. She was there to see Phil there (assuming he was). Hearsay would be someone who wasn’t there asserting Phil was there because they heard he was from someone else.
So, yes, theoretically, Alicia’s statements alone would be enough to hold Phil and, potentially, charge him, too. The fact that he does not have a solid alibi adds further to the circumstantial evidence, as do other facts, I’m sure. But, it’s really difficult to convict someone of murder with a purely circumstantial case.
I suppose we’ll see.
Well my husband just called me and said that the jodge didn’t want to touch this case with a 10 foot pole and it was obvious so all 3 were bound over for trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. My husband said the judge went over what aiding and abedding meant and basically ran through the info that was given on Tuesday before saying that he was going to bind it over for circuit court, which we kinda figured was going to happen. A small town judge is in no position and probably doesn’t have the experience to handle this case. I will update with any information about the next court date, etc. as it becomes available to me.
Given the fact that Phillip did not get to come home today only means to me that we are in the home stretch, a couple weeks for an arraignment to take place at county and he will be home. No experienced judge would have ran (or lack of running) the court like it was ran on tuesday anyways.
Well, the Downriver community doesn’t see a lot of murder cases….
How will Phil come home before he is tried?
And, won’t it take months for this to go to trial?
Okay, so it sounds like maybe Klambach realizes that there may some dealing for aiding and abetting for Phillip? That’s just a guess but it sounds good anyway.
Hopefully they’ll get the trial in Wayne County set pretty quickly.
Who’s Phillip’s lawyer? Does he have his own counsel or a public defender? Sorry if you’ve answered that one before, I can’t remember.
edited because i am a dork, but also because i updated the article.
Hi all, I too had some password difficulty.
I am wondering what Phil’s fiance has said about that evening.
What time did she get home, where was Phil?
This case was never meant to be tried Downriver . This judge was only to decide whether this case should be bound to circut court for trial.
He stated in court today that they were all being charged with many counts.
I feel badly for Phil’s family in that he got involved with the wrong people, made some bad choices and may pay for it for the rest of his life
I agree with Athena about the treatment Phil is receiving, I know this is your family member but he is in jail and not at the Ritz Carlton and will be treated as a criminal until proven otherwise.
I keep reading mention of what the detecive did and said at Phil’s mother’s home but no one mentions any details.
Impqueen, here is a new article. I am going to let you edit it the way you want to because I am not sure how it is to read on here. Thanks!
3 to be arraigned in deaths of 2 Woodhaven roommates
By ZLATI MEYER • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • May 1, 2008
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Three Woodhaven residents accused of killing a pair of roommates in their house in February have been bound over for trial. Alicia Hartner, 18; Michael Wellwood II, 19; and Phillip Morris, 22 are scheduled to be arraigned in Wayne County Circuit Court May 15 at 9 a.m.
Today 27th District Judge Randy Kalmbach quoted from Hartner’s police statement and cited case law to prove Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Christine Kowal met her burden of proof before rendering his opinion. One woman from the victims’ side clapped softly upon hearing it.
Dennis Langley, 62, and John Mascow, 61, were killed in their Riverview home on Feb. 27 after which a fire was set to get rid of any evidence, investigators said.
“It shows the judge listened to about half of the exam,†said Loren Dickstein, Morris’ defense attorney, upset about the day’s decision
sorry about that last post….don’t mean to waste anyones time with duplicate postings
Exactly! A preliminary exam is not held so that the Judge hearing the evidence can decide if he personally wants to hear the case.
The trial was always going to be held in Wayne County.
This judge only had to rule that there was enough evidence against all three defendants to have a trial, which obviously, there was.
“It shows the judge listened to about half of the exam,†said Loren Dickstein, Morris’ defense attorney, upset about the day’s decision.
Interesting statement. I’m still curious as to whether his lawyer is private or public. That’s a pretty bold statement for a lawyer to make. It’s common for a lawyer to express disappointment, but this statement suggests that the lawyer believes the state has no case against Phillip. I’ll be interested to see, as we approach trial, what these kids are actually being put on trial for, individually.
Strangely, I find myself kind of rooting for Phillip. I guess I’d really like to believe that he was just kind of daft and didn’t understand what was going on. It’d be one less bad guy to worry about in this world.
Ditto that Athena… I think sometimes naive people get sucked in and chewed up. Don’t know if that is Phil’s case but helluva way to learn a lesson if it is…
I don’t believe that he was part of the murder but initially it was suppose to be a robbery and i think that may be the reason for him being held. Like the article said the 2 men weren’t suppose to be home.
apparently there is some confusion about who is being held for what. I would hate to see Phil go down for murder if he wasn’t a part of the actual murder, but its obvious he was involved somehow.
You know i was just rereading the article and glanced at the pictures and the guys look real remorseful but her!!! She just looks so cold and just fuckin evil.
That’s the problem with mugshots, personalopinion. So often, the arrested person looks sooooo sad, but most likely because they got caught. But I’ll jump on the bandwagon, too, and say I hope what we’re seeing in Phil’s picture is grief and shock and terror over finding out he’s being charged for a heinous crime that he had nothing or “relatively little” to do with, and then I’d love to see a photo of him smiling and relieved.
They (Dennis and Jack) were generally out late on Wednesday evenings. It was Dennis’ bowling night and Jack would go out with friends. They were usually not home until later in the evening as they would sometimes meet up for a cocktail at bar near their Riverview home.
I don’t know whether the fact ( if it is indeed true) that the teens might have been intending to rob the house and did not go there with the intent to murder makes me feel better or worse.
I remember these assholes. I first ran into them at a fucking gas station. They were panhandling off route 5 near Walled Lake, MI. The skinny runt boys walked up to me as I was pumping gas for my car and they told me their car ran out of gas…. of all things. I thought it was weird because this gas station was off a highway — sort of inconvenient you know? I thought nothing of it…. they wanted money from me and I turned them down. These guys were REALLY polite. I wasn’t thinking and I sort of believed them but still wasn’t going to give them anything. I walked into pay for my gas and I mentioned to the cashier that these guys were broken down and maybe they needed a tow or something. This arab guy who ran this station goes, GOD DAMN IT… THEM ASSHOLE KIDS AGAIN !!!… and runs out into the parking lot.
Then out of nowhere comes this angry ugly little bitch. Alicia. She goes, “Why did you do that? Your a fucking asshole!” She was hiding behind a rack of Fritos and watching my every move. I didnt even notice her when I walked in. She was probably in the process of stealing something to feed her men.
I was totally confused because I thought I was helping these stranded kids. I then quickly figured it out that these kids were panhandling for drug money or beer money etc. The owner of that station theatened to call the cops. On the way back to my car all three of these miserable fucks started threatening to kill me if they ever saw me again. I laughed it off but these kids were really vicious I remember that. The skinny one… was really nasty, the one crying in the picture. He was really tough that day — he threatened to either shoot me, or cut my head off if he ever saw me again. I started laughing because this kid was really skinny and he had a really dopey haircut with bangs… he looked like a doofus. The fat one was yelling too but he was yelling as he was walking to his car — he knew better than to advance towards me. I could pick up this runt and throw him. Alicia was doing the driving. They took off. I watched them go down the highway. This was last summer.
Now they are in prison. Good. FUCK THEM. Hows it feel now? TO cry in public like the weak minded bitches they really are? Hows it feel to know they will never see freedom or daylight again. I hope they get executed.
What a bunch of worthless assholes. Seriously. I want to see something bad happen to these fucking assholes.
Welcome, whoslaughingnow.
And I’m guessing that you’re laughing now!
Sorry, I don’t buy it. I really don’t care about the legality of this case. Thank goodness I am not a jury member. If dude was participating in an armed robbery gone bad, a possible murder, a frigging I am just the driver shit, he was partly responsible. He shouldn’t have been involved. PERIOD. Maybe not the death penalty, how about the I am the biggest cry baby defense.
P.S. I don’t give a crap who I piss off. If dude is not mentally challenged. He should be held responsible for his BAD decision.
Well i guess you are laughing now, but they’re not in prison yet!!
Truth be told the thing that brings me the most to this thread is all the mixed up stories. At one point he is the get away driver, then he don’t drive at all. It was also stated that he was home all night, or only unaccounted for; for about 20 min. What do you stay up all night on a regular bases? How did her confession get Phil locked up when they were all 3 arrested at the same time. Obviously they had something on him. Right? I’m amused by these murderous outcasts. Its like watching roaches scatter when u shine the light on them!!! These men didn’t deserve to die and Justice will prevail.
<blockquote Alicia was doing the driving. They took off. I watched them go down the highway. This was last summer.
I think one of the “FreePhils” mentioned the three had only been hanging out for a few weeks. Perhaps whoslaughingnow has them confused with another trio. None of them are fat. (?)
I think all of the people who loved Jack and Dennis share whoslaugingnow’s feelings of of anger and even though I never believed in capitol punishment before, I see now how the feelings of an eye for an eye can prevail in these situations. It cannot bring the loved ones back but seeing justice served to the full extent of the law does hold the promise of closure.
Great point! Free Phil is the one who stated that all three were arrested at the same time, not the boys after Alicia. So, if Alicia gave her confession implicating Phil while in custody, what was Phil arrested for in the first place? There had to be some evidence for an arrest warrent to be issued. I’d like to know the answer to that question.
This is not some guy who got involved with the “wrong crowd,” as in, people doing drugs (though they did that too) or underage drinking (wait, they did that too) or stealing (check) - but this is murder! Much different than just the “wrong crowd” in my eyes.
The person I feel sorry for is Dennis Langley for getting involved with Michelle Hartner. Now his life is over. Phil’s family can still talk to him, even if it is behind bars.
Wonder if her new girl friend likes it that way?
There is alot of evidence that the prosecutors will bring to the trial. Even if the defendant’s lawyers know of the evidence they may not share it with you FreePhils. They are defending your loved one guilty or not, sharing this information could compromise a fair trial for the defendants. They may have cell phone calls, and other things from the stae police lab that only the inside circle of lawyers from both sides know about.
I’m just tuning back in and catching up after not following for a few weeks. Some very interesting questions have been brought up and some very interesting points have been made.
I am confused about a couple of things. Perhaps this was cleared up in an earlier posting and I missed it. If this is indeed the case, please forgive me.
1) Is any one denying that Phil got a call and picked these two up after the fact? Or is Phil taking the stance of absolutely no involvement? Never saw or heard from them that night?
2) If he never left the house that night and IS taking the stance of no involvement, what does the live in fiancee say about this? When did she arrive home? Is she his alabi along with the friend Dave?
3) OR, is he stating that he did pick them up from somewhere, but had no knowledge of what happened what-so-ever?
If he did pick them up after the fact with no knowledge of what had happened, I wouldn’t think that would constitute “driving the getaway car”. I would think that would be simply picking up two friends who called for a ride somewhere. In my mind, the driver of the “getaway car” either had knowledge of a crime prior to in happening, OR if not prior to, then was made aware that a crime had occured and now we have to “get-away”.
Here’s my current thoughts:
First let me say my heart goes out to all of families involved. And if indeed Phil is innocent completely, he should be freed ASAP.
I think that it is quite likely that Phil came to pick these two up after the fact, quite probably not knowing what he was walking into. Maybe he had some idea that Alicia and Mike were conspiring a “rob Dennis’s house when no one was home” scheme, and maybe he didn’t know a thing. Who knows? It’s here nor there.
If he did pick them up AFTER they burned the vehicle, and far enough away from it, it could be plausable that he had no idea that any crime had taken place. But if this were the case, this raises the question, where’s all of the cigarettes? They would have had to of burned in the vehicle in order for WHOEVER picked them up to not know any details of the crime!
(We’re talking about a lot of cigarettes. Not just a few cartons)
And in contrast, if the cigarettes went from Dennis’s van to WHOEVER picked them up’s trunk, that person then also had to be aware that the vehilce was torched, IF they all left together.
So even if the original intention may have started out as picking up some friends, it probably did not end up that way.
Lastly, the psyce is a complex thing. Where one’s sympathies lie can drive people to commit crimes or cover for people. You just never know.
A good example is the film “Gone baby, gone”. I was shocked at how many people that I knew saw that movie thought that it was a bad ending, and that everyone should have stayed hush, hush and let Morgan Freeman go on and raise that little girl. While clearly, ethically that would NOT have been the right thing to do.
It’s been said that any one is capable of doing any thing under the right circumstances.
I’ll be curious to see where this goes from here.
Oh, one other question. Probably only Freephil would know the answer to this?
Where does Alicia allege that Phil picked them up at? The house? Or on the street after they left the scene?
Freephil, I am just curious to know if you were in the court room when Dave gave his testimony? As I understand it, they sequestered the family of the defendants for at least some of of the testimony.
There was news coverage offering details of the testimony that are very different from him saying ” I don’t know if he left”.
A family member who was present for the testimony tells a very different account of Dave’s testimony. A testimony that is in alignment with the story in Sunday’s News Herald in which it states that he is sure that Phillip actually did leave the apartment. Also, that he was asked to watch his girlfriends little boy. He states that he saw weapons on the bed at Phil’s apartment. Including a handgun, a shotgun and a bandoleer. (<– what’s a bandoleer?) He states, Mike Wellwood was at Phil’s apartment (remember they all live in the same apt. complex). When Mike got a call from Alicia at around 10 pm, Mike left. That was when, Dave said, he asked him to keep an eye on the little boy until he returned. He said Phil left at around 10:30 pm. He also said that he was sure that one of the guns was missing. He said Phil returned between 11 and 11:15 pm, and that his clothes were a little bit dirty.
Now, her’s my Colombo brain at work again:
IF, as Alicia allegedly testifies in her written testimony, Morris was involved because he was the only one they knew with a car, there are some serious holes in this story thus far. SOMEONE drove Mike an Alicia to Dennis’s house. (would the time lines make sense for them to have possibly gone on foot)? And If Phil left the apartment at 10:30, as is said that Dave testifies, that would imply that the trio left the apt. complex together. Perhaps Phil met up with the other two in the parking lot of the apt. complex? So, from 10:30pm to 11 or 11:15pm, the following took place: The trio leave the apt. complex and go to Dennis’s house. Alicia and Mike break into the house, Mike scuffles with Jack in the upstairs bedroom, Kills him, and then they hide in the garage and wait for Dennis. Dennis shows up shortly after, Mike kills Dennis in the garage, they take off in Dennis’s Van that has cigarettes in it, go a few blocks away, empty the contents of the Van into Phil’s car, Torch the Van, and Phil is back at home “with a little dirt” on him all in 30 to 45 minutes time? If you add to that, that Alicia claims they took the “stuff” to Phil’s mom’s house in Taylor, this just doesn’t add up. We’re obviously not getting the whole story exactly straight.
As of now, if that testimony is accurate, it would seem more plausable that Phil picked them up after the fact. (why would they take Dennis’s van if they had a getaway car and driver at the scene)?
I still want to know when the girlfriend got home and what her thoughts are about this. Also, did Dave mention if Phil said where he was going? If someone asked me to babysit, I’d want to know where you are going to be and when you plan to return. Maybe Dave’s timelines aren’t accurate.
All of that said, and no offense to the Freephils, but I think it’s a real possibility that Phil was involved in this case and he is going to be punished for it. That seemes to be clearer as more information comes. Maybe Phil was more impressionable than anyone thought possible.
If he is innocent, thank heaven for our justice system that is going to give him a fair chance at proving his innocence.
Makes me wonder, if Phil did not take them to Dennis’s house, then who did ? Surely that would have come out and someone else would have been arrested in connection with these murders.
On another note, WTF is wrong with an attorney who would argue that there is no DNA evidence linking Wellwood to the murders, so therefore he should not be bound over? Are you F-ing kidding me? How does such a person sleep at night? I mean, do they get off on seeing if they are clever enough to get their dumb ass murderous clients a freaking get out of jail free card?
tincture of time.
I may be wrong but I find it hard to believe that Phil knew nothing about this when, according to his sister, Mike had just left his apartment at 10pm the same night of the murders. I don’t think there is any way that moron would have kept his mouth shut about what he was about to do. Especially considering there were over 100 tips to the police, the losers were obviously running their mouths about the murders and robbery. As someone had posted earlier, I am sure the police and prosecutors already have their phone records and that should tell a lot.
Sorry everyone, this is not really relevent to our current discussion.
Whoslaughingnow, I vaguely recall news coverage last spring/summer of some teens pulling this scam on unsuspecting good samaritans.
I could not say it was this group but I do remember seeing this on fox 2.
As a warning to area citizens. I think they interviewed the station owner briefly.
sorry, haven’t been around much, a lot going on “obviously” .. Phillip’s attorney is private, not a public defender and he does believe that the state has no case against my brother.
I am going to go back and read where I left off so I may post again, but the arraingment in Circuit Court is tomorrow morning.