Thomas Howard Wendt

Case information

Defendant: Thomas Howard Wendt Victims: Vicki Sue Keller-Wendt, 44; Brandie Lea Keller, 20; Douglas McCoy, 50

The offence

Wendt fatally shot his ex-wife Vicki Sue Keller-Wendt and two other people, Brandie Lea Keller and Douglas McCoy, outside a courthouse. The three victims were on their way to testify against Wendt when they were shot, including testimony related to a probation hearing for Wendt and a probation violation matter involving Keller-Wendt.

Police said Wendt used a shotgun to kill Douglas McCoy, Vicki Sue Keller-Wendt, and Brandie Lea Keller outside the Isabella County Courthouse, at 300 N. Main St. The shootings occurred as the victims walked to the courthouse to attend a hearing on Wendt’s probation violation and related proceedings.

Background

Vicki Keller-Wendt obtained a personal protection order to keep Wendt away. In court records, she said Wendt followed her, slashed her tires, and called her dozens of times a day.

Wendt had prior history in the courts, including a domestic violence charge.

Rhonda Young, a former co-worker of Wendt, testified that within months of beginning their working relationship he made statements about harming his ex-wife. Young testified that Wendt said:

• “He said he was going to kill the bitch,” and made similar statements about six or seven times during their yearlong friendship.

Young testified that in late February she was leaving work when Wendt approached her at her car, visibly upset. She testified that Wendt said:

• “He was upset and afraid he was going to do jail time,” and that:
• “He said he wasn’t going to do jail time for her. He was going to kill her first and kill himself.”

During the preliminary-hearing proceedings, other testimony described that Wendt made threats on Keller-Wendt’s life and had a history of domestic violence.

Young testified that weeks prior to March 5, Wendt told her he would cause harm to Keller-Wendt during the March 5 hearing. Young said Wendt stated:

• “In court, he was going to jump over the bailiff, snap her neck and make the cops shoot him,”

Young also testified that Wendt tried to organize the factory employees to bring in a union. Young said she believed Wendt was singled out to take a drug test in retaliation for his involvement with union talks. Young testified that Wendt failed the drug test and was subsequently fired.

Investigation

Officer Charlie Lyon of the Mount Pleasant Police Department testified regarding the planned hearing, stating that the four were to give testimony in regard to a probation violation.

Detective William Griffin of the Mount Pleasant Police Department testified that when he arrived in the parking lot after the shooting, he spoke with Ed Williams, who was to serve as a character witness for Wendt that day. Griffin said Williams was upset and said:

• “He was very upset, bordering on hysterical,”
• “He kept saying ‘I can’t believe he did this. I can’t believe he did this.’”

Griffin testified that Williams told him he was in the parking lot at the time of the shooting but did not see it happen and only heard the shots.

Griffin testified that the shots came from a 12-gauge shotgun that fired 32-caliber, buckshot pellets. The testimony explained that buckshot differs from regular bullets or slugs in that it is comprised of several small steel bearings that spray in a fan-like manner when fired.

Sgt. Scott Hrcka of the Michigan State Police Lansing Forensic Laboratory testified that one shotgun shell was found in the parking lot. Because it was snowing, tire tracks were found at the scene exiting the lot.

Hrcka testified that police tracked Wendt to his home in Weidman and found a shotgun shell in a gold-tan Suburban registered to Wendt.

After Wendt’s arrest, authorities found a shotgun at 7820 Wilderness Drive. The weapon was loaded with one round still in the chamber.

Authorities also found a notepad containing a four-page letter, signed by Wendt, addressed to his mother and sister. Burdick asked that Hrcka read the letter in full for the record. Hrcka read the letter verbatim as follows:

“‘Vicki will never bother you again,’”
“‘I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done.’ “‘The whore has taken it out on you. ... I promise no one will look at the whore’s face again. She won’t have one. ... You will not have to live in fear of the junky whore.’ “‘If I went to jail, the whore would still be alive to torment you,’”
“‘After today, have no fear, she will be dead and I will be free of my pain and suffering. ... Please don’t grieve for me.’”
“‘If I still had my job, I might be able to get through this. ... I can’t fight it anymore. ... The court system can’t do anything to her, so I will.’”
“‘I would give anything to start over, ... but I can’t.’”
“‘Hopefully, I will be able to kill Doug McCoy,’” Hrcka read.

Other witnesses included CMU Police Officer Leo Mioduszewski and Mount Pleasant Police Detective David Tuma.

Arrest and surrender

Police said Wendt fled to his home in Weidman and surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Authorities arrested Wendt at home after he took an apparent overdose of prescription drugs and called a crisis hotline. Police described Wendt as disoriented but unharmed when arrested in his trailer following an hour-long standoff in which Wendt came outside twice with a shotgun. Authorities entered the trailer after telephone negotiations broke down.

Trial

Wendt was bound over for trial on first-degree murder charges in the shooting deaths of three Mount Pleasant residents.

At a preliminary hearing, County Prosecutor Larry Burdick requested that charges filed against the triple-homicide suspect be amended from three counts of open murder to three counts of premeditated first-degree murder. The Honorable William R. Rush presided over the hearing. The court also approved that Wendt be held without bond.

Wendt also was charged with three counts of a felony firearm violation. If convicted, Wendt faced life in prison for each count.

Insanity defense notice

Wendt entered a notice of insanity defense in response to three first-degree homicide charges and three felony firearms charges. Prosecutor Larry Burdick said Wendt would be examined at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti to evaluate him for competency to stand trial and whether he should be responsible for his actions at the time he allegedly committed the crime.

Burdick said both the prosecuting attorney and Wendt’s defense attorney, Mark Kowalczyk, would have the option to request a “second opinion” after the evaluation results.

Prosecution and defense at the preliminary hearing

At the preliminary hearing, the prosecution called five witnesses to testify. The defense did not call any witnesses.

Trial testimony and verdict

On December 17, 2002, Wendt was found guilty of first-degree murder on all three counts after less than a day of deliberations.

The jury delivered guilty verdicts on all three first-degree murder counts. Wendt faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Wendt testified that he did not remember killing his ex-wife Vicki Sue Keller-Wendt, her niece Brandi Lea Keller, and Vicki Keller’s friend Douglas McCoy. Wendt testified he tried to end his life by overdosing on prescription and illicit drugs the morning of the shootings and did not remember anything from that point until two days later.

Prosecutor Larry Burdick argued that Wendt’s explanation was “nonsense.” Defense attorney Mark Kowalczyk argued that Burdick had not proved the premeditation needed for a first-degree murder conviction, especially in the death of Brandi Keller.

Sentencing

Wendt was sentenced to life in prison without parole on December 27, 2002.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided in the case record.

Outcome

Wendt was found guilty of first-degree murder on three counts and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on December 27, 2002.

Other details

A probate court hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. March 5 related to Wendt’s probation violation. Police said Keller-Wendt notified police earlier in the process after Wendt yelled obscenities at her while she talked on her cell phone in her car, with Keller present with Keller-Wendt at the time. Wendt’s contact with Keller-Wendt was described as a violation of his probation.

Wendt pleaded no contest to an obscene phone call charge and was sentenced to four months probation and ordered to have no contact with Keller-Wendt. Wendt’s no contest plea was entered on Sept. 19 (year not stated in the case record).