LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A more than two-year courtroom saga is over for the man who murdered and burned the body of a 64-year-old woman on Lacey Road in Caledonia. Judge Dennis Cohen sentenced Aykut 'Ike' Ozkaynak, 37, to 25 years to life in prison for Murder in the Second Degree and one and one third to four years in prison for Tampering with Physical Evidence. A jury convicted Ozkaynak of both felonies at trial, where his accomplice and former … [Read more...]
Burned Body Convict: ‘I Would Give My Life for Patrice’s Life’
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The woman who pled guilty to being involved in the murder and burning of Patrice Miller cried as her attorney read an emotional statement to the judge, whom she knew was about to issue a significant prison sentence. Mary Neverett, 44, had her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Lindsay Quintilone, read a prepared statement to Judge Dennis Cohen. The Judge was about to issue a determinate sentence somewhere between 18 and 20 … [Read more...]
Caledonia Murderer Guilty as Charged
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A jury convicted the man charged with murdering and burning a 64-year old woman. The jury found Aykut Ozkaynak, 34, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence, both of which are felonies. Defense attorney Steve Sessler requested an adjournment for the preparation of a pre-sentence investigation. "You are judging the prosecution's case," said Sessler in summations, before the jury began … [Read more...]
Caledonia Murder Suspect’s Accomplice Testifies to Disturbing Killing and Burning of Roommate
Warning: Some readers may find this content disturbing. LIVINGSTON COUNTY – It was an emotional morning on the witness stand at trial for the woman who says she and her boyfriend at the time murdered her roomate, sold her belongings and burned her body on the side of Lacey Road in Caledonia. Mary Neverett, 44, has already pled guilty to felony Manslaughter in the First Degree and agreed to serve 20 years in prison. Now, she says, it's time … [Read more...]
DA: Man Smothered Girlfriend’s Roomate and Burned Her in Caledonia
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The Gates resident accused of murdering a 64-year-old woman and burning her body in Caledonia heard the first evidence against him at trial on Tuesday. District Attorney Greg McCaffrey laid out his theory of the case, that Aykut Ozkaynak, 34, smothered Patrice Miller, 64, who was the roomate of his girlfriend, Mary Neverett, 42, before they drove the body to Caledonia and set it on fire. "We believe that Mr. Ozkaynak, … [Read more...]
Caledonia Burned Body Case Hits Trial Monday
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Trial begins Monday for the man accused of murdering his girlfriend's roomate and burning her body in Caledonia. Aykut Ozkaynak, 36, will stand trial for Murder in the Second Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence, both of which are felonies. Ozkaynak was arrested with Mary Neverett for the death and burning of Neverett's roomate, Patrice Miller, 64. Neverett already pled guilty to felony Manslaughter in the First … [Read more...]
Neverett Makes Plea Deal in Lacey Road Murder Case
LIVINGSTON COUNTY - On Monday a Gates woman charged with murdering Patrice Miller accepted a plea-deal to first-degree manslaughter. Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey confirmed that on Monday, Mary Neverett, 42, pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of Patrice Miller with the agreed upon sentence of 20 years. In July of 2016 Miller was arrested along with Aykut Ozkaynak, 35, after a local resident … [Read more...]
Inmate Says Caledonia Murder Suspect Confessed in Jail
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A federal inmate is saying that the man accused of murdering his girlfriend's roomate confessed in jail. Aukut Ozkaynak, 37, is accused of felony Murder in the Second Degree and felony Tampering with Physical Evidence. Ozkaynak, who the federal inmate says is known in jail as 'Ike,' shook his head as he watched the inmate enter the courtroom. "Our first encounter was on Aug. 5, 2016. He came out of his cell and asked if … [Read more...]
Over 1 Year Later, Caledonia Murder Suspects Hit Snags in Cases
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The cases against two people accused of murdering a roomate and burning her body in Caledonia will return to court for more arguments than were expected. Aykut Ozkaynak, 36, and Mary Neverett, 43, are both charged with felony Murder in the Second Degree and felony Tampering with Physical Evidence. The hangup is about search warrants in each case, whether they were properly applied for by law enforcement, and whether Judge … [Read more...]
Attorney in Caledonia Burned Body Murder Case Attacks Arrest and Evidence
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The attorney defending a Gates man from murder charges is aggressively pursuing suppression of evidence, saying that it was collected illegally. Aykut Ozkaynak, 36, is charged with Murder in the Second Degree and felony Tampering with Physical Evidence. Attorney Steve Sessler, assigned to the case by the court, seeks to suppress all of the evidence collected by law enforcement after the signature of a search warrant by … [Read more...]