Rewind: News Highlights From The Last 7 Days

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and her husband used “their local political influence” to get their son readmitted to Mason schools after he was expelled for allegedly sexually assaulting a female pupil, a civil rights suit filed last week in federal court contends. Byrum’s spouse, Brad Delaney, is a detective sergeant in the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department. They are named as co-defendants with the Mason Public School District, Mason High School Principal Lance Delbridge and Assistant Principal Nicholas Toodzio. For more on this story, go to www.lansingcitypulse.com.

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership received nearly $19 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund board to use in redeveloping the former Lansing Car Assembly plant on Verlinden Avenue. LEAP will use the funds to remove underground utilities, demolish old structures and remediate the site. The Strategic Site Readiness Program, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund, has designated $87.5 million for redevelopment projects statewide. The Lansing plant opened as Durant Motor Co. in 1920 and was purchased by General Motors in 1935. Production ended in 2004, and the factory was demolished in 2007.

Elysa Kelemen, 32, was arraigned in Eaton County District Court on Friday on one count of open murder in connection to the death of her 6-year-old stepson, Kyron Kelemen. Police found the child injured at the Travelodge by Wyndham in Delta Township on Jan. 12. He died at a hospital later that day. Documents obtained by WILX state that he was covered in bruises and suffered lacerations to his liver and pancreas due to blunt force trauma. A hearing has been set for Feb. 20 to determine whether Kelemen should stand trial. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Lansing Sunday presented a $40,303.18 check to the Justice League of Greater Lansing, part of a $100,000 pledge it made “for reparation of the sins of slavery, the aftermath of gross human rights violations and complicity in the misbelief of white supremacy.” The church last year made an $18,000 payment to the Justice League and expects to cover the rest through congregant pledges. The 2-year-old Black-led organization has now raised more than $400,000 of endowed reparations to fund scholarships and grants, home ownership and entrepreneurship.

Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane announced Tuesday he will run as a Democrat for the four-year term that begins in 2025. Dewane was appointed in December 2022 to replace retiring prosecutor Carol Siemon. Dewane, 58, of Williamston, is the only candidate listed for the Aug. 6 primary election on the Ingham County Clerk website. “From day one, my office brought a renewed emphasis to the prosecution of serious, violent and gun-related crime, especially when committed by repeat and habitual offenders,” he said.

Mason Police Chief Mark Wriggelsworth has resigned, effective Feb. 9. He submitted his resignation, which did not include a reason for leaving, on Jan. 19. City Manager Deborah Stuart said a timeline for filling the position has not been determined, that the city is recruiting potential candidates and that the opening may be posted. Wriggelsworth is the brother of Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth.

Michigan State University Vice President and Chief Safety Officer Marlon Lynch is leaving for an associate vice chancellor position in a new Division of Public Safety at the University of Colorado Boulder. Lynch’s last day at MSU is March 3, after which Doug Monette will take over, MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said in a Feb. 2 statement. Lynch served for three years at MSU. 

Police believe six suspects of a Jan. 22 smash-and-grab robbery at Kay Jewelers in the Lansing Mall were also responsible for several other similar robberies in Michigan and Ohio. The six men, Courtez Lawrence, Deshawn Hammonds, Jasmine O’ Neal, Eric Lambert Bennett, Desean Hall and Andre Jackson, were arrested Jan. 24 after a Sterling Heights robbery. They were sent to the Macomb County Jail. Police have since recovered $170,000 worth of stolen jewelry.

PUBLIC SAFETY:

Elijah Peterson (pictured), 24, was found dead Friday at Lake Lansing Park North following a police search lasting several hours after he was reported missing and endangered Friday. No cause of death has been reported, and an investigation is ongoing, the Meridian Township Police Department said. … A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized Sunday after being shot in the leg in the 1200 block of Leslie Street in Lansing. Two suspects fled the scene, and the shooting remains under investigation. … Two men, ages 45 and 31, suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds in an incident Sunday in the 2800 block of South Cedar Street in Lansing. No arrests have been made.