Wixom Man Gets 3 Years Jail In Choking, One-Punch Death

WIXOM (WWJ) – A 27-year-old Wixom man will spend the next three years behind bars after pleading in connection with the one-punch death of another man.

Phillip Myers received his sentenced last week after pleading no contest to manslaughter in the death of 43-year-old Chris Markiewicz, of New Hudson.

Myers, who described the incident as a "fight gone wrong," apologized to the victim's family in court.

"It was a very big mistake. It was an accident. My intentions were not for this to happen," he said, according to a report in The Oakland Press. "To the family, I'm terribly, terribly sorry. There's nothing I can say to make up for their loss. I'm going to do my time and get out and be a productive citizen."

The incident happened last August at the Kensington Place mobile home park in Lyon Township. Myers' 17-year-old stepsister told police that she gave a drunken Markiewicz a ride home on Aug. 24 when he propositioned her for sex. The teen shrugged off his advances, but when Markiewicz showed up at her home the next day and refused to leave, investigators say Myers punched him, knocking him to the ground, and choked him.

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene but Markiewicz said he didn't want to press charges. Just over an hour later, he called 911 and reported having chest pains and difficulty breathing. Markiewicz, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was taken to the hospital and eventually placed on life support. He died six days later.

An autopsy determined Markiewicz's death was caused by neck compression with complications.

Myers was initially charged with aggravated assault but after Markiewicz's death, authorities elevated the charge to manslaughter.