Jury Finds Man Guilty In 14-Year-Old April Millsap's Death
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ/AP) - A St. Clair County man had been found guilty of killing a 14-year-old girl along a popular northern Macomb County nature trail.
A Macomb County jury convicted James VanCallis Monday of first-degree murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to rape in the death of April Millsap.
Prosecutors and police officers embraced the teen's relatives after the verdict was read.
Afterward, Karen Risch spoke on behalf of the Millsap family, saying the case shook the community to its core.
"She has brought together Armada in a way that no politician, no amount of money ever, every could," Risch said. "I had a conversation with her grandfather about that back in October when we planted bulbs in the garden and he found solace knowing that she's brought together our community in such a manner.
"What 14-year-old could ever have done that?" Risch asked.
Authorities said VanCallis hit Millsap with a motorcycle helmet and stomped on her in July 2014 while she was walking her dog along the Macomb Orchard Trail in Armada.
The teen was reported missing by her mother after she failed to return home from her dog walk, and her body was found hours later in a drainage ditch near Fulton and Depot roads.
Millsap's dog, Penny, alerted a pair of joggers to the girl's remains.
A police officer testified that the teen's blouse "was torn from her body and moved to around her waist area. Her undergarment had been removed from around her waist and were down about the ankles." A medical examiner ruled she died blunt head trauma and asphyxia due to neck compression.
Less than a month later, police named VanCallis — who was arrested alongside his father on marijuana charges — as a person of interest in Millsap's death. He was officially charged on Oct. 9.
"April is gone. The best we can do is honor her, remember her and make it that this kind of thing never happens again," Risch said.
VanCallis has maintained his innocence and a defense lawyer said there's no DNA evidence linking VanCallis to Millsap's death. However, three witnesses said they saw him talking with Millsap along the trail shortly before her body was discovered, and a shoe print on Millsap's body also matched the "unique" print of athletic shoe worn by VanCallis, prosecutors said.
An appeal is planned.
Sentencing has been scheduled for March 30.
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