Twenty-year-old James Horn of Flint shook his head in court as the judge read his charges in the death of 55-year-old Leslie Mills of Grand Blanc.
Authorities say Horn was the mastermind behind Sunday's heinous crime. Horn allegedly asked Nancy Johnson and Matthew Riselay to steal a car in return for drugs. Johnson and Riselay scoped the area for a victim, and found Leslie Mills parked at the Mobil one-stop gas station on Corunna Road in Flint Township.
"Their paths crossed and she was the unfortunate victim,” said Flint Twp. Police Chief George Sippert.
Police say Johnson and Riselay shot Mills four times.
"And then in cold blood, they pushed her out of the vehicle onto the pavement,” described Genesee Prosecutor David Leyton. Then, he explained, they drove off in Mills' car and dumped it at the Economy Motel two blocks away.
Flint Township police staked out the area and arrested Horn, Johnson, Riselay and a fourth suspect, Phillip Eason, whom they say tried to get rid of the murder weapon. Police suspect Horn was selling drugs at the motel, and Johnson soliciting prostitution.
Horn, Johnson and Riselay are charged with five felonies, including murder and carjacking. Eason is accused of being an accessory to the crime. He's a convicted felon.
Leyton credits the swift detective work by Flint Township police.
"Everything has been done to bring in the heinous killers that we will now prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” Leyton said.
"Justice will be served for Ms. Mills and her entire family,” Chief Sippert said.
Leyton says Mills gave police a dying declaration on her way to Hurley Medical Center. She told police a man and woman shot her. Her statement along with a witness 9-1-1 call will be used as evidence against the suspects.
