Former U-M student involved in fatal crash pleads guilty by reason of insanity
A former University of Michigan student who caused a deadly crash on US-23 last March during what his attorney called a psychotic episode has pleaded guilty to criminal charges by reason of insanity.
Michael Kelly, 21, entered the plea to second-degree murder charges at a pretrial hearing earlier this month and was ordered committed to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for a review that should be complete in May, records show. Kelly has been at the center for months and is improving with treatment, said Andrew Abood, his attorney.
Abood said Kelly is schizophrenic and suffered symptoms of his mental illness while driving his vehicle southbound on US-23 in Pittsfield Township on March 12, 2010. His vehicle crossed the median and went into the northbound lanes, where it struck two vehicles. Brandon Rapp, of Clay Township, died in the crash. The Eastern Michigan University graduate was 25.
Kelly, of East Lansing, was enrolled at the University of Michigan at the time of the crash.
Comments
mhirzel
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.
It's really pathetic that so many in this society still believe, despite all the revelations of what REALLY goes on in the psychiatric, industrial medicine cartel, that a situation like this tragedy could have been averted by "better access to mental health services." This young man is right at the beginning of the wave of a generation of the most poisoned children ever on the face of this earth. They have been poisoned in the womb, in pediatricians' offices, by industrial "food," and by a horricfcally polluted environment. The follow-up assault is conducted in the psychiatrist's office......... There was REAL progress in the biochemical understanding of illnesses described by such labels as "schizophrenia," by conscientious physicians and researchers like Abram Hoffer, M.D., PhD and his colleagues. That research has helped thousands of people overcome toxic assaults and nutritional deficiencies, and now lead normal lives. Sadly, then came the pharmaceutical industry's successful take-over of the medical profession - education and practice...... Ask your doctor, s/he'll tell you orthomolecular medicine is all bunk. Ask an "ex-schizophrenic" who's followed this therapy, you'll find out the facts instead. If we continue to depend on the advice of uninformed, biased "health" professionals for a way out of this quagmire, it will bury us all. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYj4ahbkaO8" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYj4ahbkaO8</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLWJhj4Mmy8" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLWJhj4Mmy8</a>
Watcher
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
There is no such plea as "guilty by reason of insanity." A person can be found guilty, but mentally ill. However, the mentally ill part of the plea does not change the sentence that can be imposed.
Mike D.
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 5 a.m.
News like this shouldn't have community commenting. It's just inappropriate. What more can be said?
Ty W
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
Listen, it doesn't matter if he has a mental illness. He killed someone! He needs to be locked away if he can't function in society.
bs
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 12:40 a.m.
yep, Ty, Cash nailed it... we've pretty much eliminated all facilities to deal with the mentally ill, and health care insurance really doesn't pay for it anymore either... The mentally ill will remain on the street, with your kids and families, because we just don't care any more.
johnnya2
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
So if an Iraq war veteran killed an Iraqi civilian while there he should also be locked away? " he killed somone", according to your standard. Get a clue
Cash
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
Where should he be "locked away" at?
John B.
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
A2.com folks, the article says (twice) that he is pleading guilty by reason of insanity. It's doesn't say that he is pleading not guilty. Does Michigan have a 'guilty, but insane' plea? Some states do, right? What are the ramifications of pleading guilty, but insane (in Michigan)?
Cash
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
In Michigan, a person can be guilty but mentally ill, which means a defendant committed an offense while mentally ill but did not lack the capacity to know it was wrong or unlawful. Treatment is a mandatory part of sentencing in such cases.(GBMI)
Basic Bob
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.
The plea is NOT guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). He's already a patient at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry. If he is acquitted, he will remain at CFP for treatment. If his subsequent treatment is successful, he can be released.
Matt Cooper
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
If I'm not mistaken you can't just walk into court and plead not guilty by reason of insanity. That defense must be approved by a judge after certain interviews with mental health professionals and opinions rendered by those professionals. For his sake, if this kid really is psychotic, I hope he gets the help he needs to live a long and healthy life. If he is not, I hope he gets a rather lengthy prison sentence. Either way, I'll be praying for the family of his victim. They need compassion, too.
Cash
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 7 p.m.
I knew there had been previous articles about this accident and this young man. I did find this one that kind of cleared some things up, in my mind anyhow. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/washtenaw-county-judge-dismisses-charges-of-operating-under-the-influence-in-fatal-crash-but-second-/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/washtenaw-county-judge-dismisses-charges-of-operating-under-the-influence-in-fatal-crash-but-second-/</a>
Urban Sombrero
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 6:19 p.m.
I feel so sorry for the family of the victim in this case. My thoughts are with you. Guilty by reason of insanity just seems so........well, like a cop-out in this case. I'm not doubting that Mr. Kelley was disturbed while this happened, but insanity? It just seems like an attempt to get off scott free. I hope annarbor.com doesn't delete this comment. I'm not trying to be provocative, nor am I pointing fingers. I guess to me, at least, this just seems like the easy way out, and a way to avoid blame.
Matt Cooper
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
Urban, I'm wondering what mental health experience you have? Can you even define the word "sanity" (without looking it up in a dictionary first)? This is a very complex issue and it's impossible to know the kids state of mind without extensive interviewing and examining by professional mental health experts.
Cash
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
There are a lot of articles about this case and the physical and mental episode he was going through at the moment of his accident. Pretty sad all of the way around.
Ricebrnr
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
And unfortuntely the only difference between this trajedy and Tuscon besides body count is no one is calling for bans on cars or the failure of background checks of the mentally ill and vehicle ownership. Not that those would've prevented this either.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 1:59 a.m.
And btw in Mi yes you must have permission to purchase a pistol and a license with training if you wish to carry it concealed. If you wish to know more search for the recent article "Navigating Michigan's Gun Laws" Cheers
Ricebrnr
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 1:56 a.m.
<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf</a> Table 10. Number of deaths from 113 selected causes by age: United States, 2007—Con. - ALL AGES FOR 2007 Motor-vehicle accidents ........ 43,945 Other land transport accidents........ 1,083 Total 45,028 Assault (homicide) by discharge of firearms .................... 12,632 Accidental discharge of firearms ......... 613 Discharge of firearms, undetermined intent .... 276 Total 13,521 (3.3 times lower than vehicle deaths. If we add in: Intentional self-harm (suicide) by discharge of firearms ........................ 17,352 Total 30,873 (68.6% as much as vehicle fatalities) So which is the more dangerous? The weapon "designed" to kill or the one that actually kills more people? Purposefully or not?
johnnya2
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
Ok, tell us what process you gun owner MUST go through to obtain a gun? Is a license required? Nope, the NRA could never stand for that. Is training similar to drivers ed required? Not with the NRA around. Do you have to pass a competency of intended use test? Not with you NRA people. If you want to compare the tragedies, we can start by forcing ALL people who buy or carry a gun to pass tests, carry a license that is renewed, and if they fail, they lose that right. I will also point out the dumbest comment ever made "only difference between this trajedy and Tuscon besides body count ". That actually PROVES the point as to why guns should be treated differently. Body count IS the difference. How many people with mental illness kill people in cars versus how many kill with guns?
2WheelsGood
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
"Hmmmm, correct me if I'm wrong (which I'm most definitely not), but it seems this situation is a bit more different from the one in Tuscon than you would like others to believe." You are wrong. First, handguns like the one used in Tucson are designed and most often used for defensive purposes, UNLIKE the way the mentally unstable person in Tucson used it. Second, regardless of a machine's intended purpose, this car in the hands of a mentally unstable person was used to kill someone. I tell ya what, ask the families of the deceased if the fact that a car was used instead of a gun makes their loved ones any less deceased.
JS
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 7:25 p.m.
I hate to rain on your parade of gun rights and whatnot but I think you're missing something here.... What is a car designed and built to do? and..... What is a handgun with a 30 round clip designed and built to do? Hmmmm, correct me if I'm wrong (which I'm most definitely not), but it seems this situation is a bit more different from the one in Tuscon than you would like others to believe.
Cindy
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
This is an example of why it is so important for everyone to support good mental health treatment services and be sure that there is enough funding to make them available to anyone that needs them. We also need to fight the stigma associated with having a mental illness so that people are more willing to seek and comply with treatment. No one wants to have a mental illness but, with enough help, people that have them can lead good, productive lives. My heart goes out to both families.
Cash
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
Michael So very right. It is heartbreaking for everyone involved. And, yes, the late teens, early 20s is when the signs begin to show more dramatically. But when a child is away at college, you may not even know.Until it's too late. It is so sad.
Michael K.
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
Ignatz, Schizophrenia often first shows up during the college years. He may have been able to hide it from family while away at school. Unlikely that he would have needed any detailed testing to renew a liscense at that age. Very sad. As someone with a teenage son, I grieve for both families.
Ignatz
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
Thanks for your response.
Major
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
Whatever, murder is murder, time to pay the price!
Ignatz
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
I wonder if his condition was present prior to the accident or even his obtaining a driver's license. If so, I wonder if the state has restrictions because of that.