HOLLY (WWJ) -- A Holly man has been arraigned on multiple charges related to the death of his mother.
Officers from the Holly Police Department were called to a home on Ash Street for a report of an unresponsive woman in her bed just before 2 p.m. on Nov. 25. They were told that a family member came to check on the woman and found her dead.
The woman’s brother spoke to officers when they arrived. According to the Holly PD, he said that both he and his mother had called the woman but didn’t receive an answer, which was unusual. The three had been together the previous night and made plans for that day.
He found her car missing and the doors locked when he arrived. He forced a rear door open and found her dead in her bed. He identified the woman as 59-year-old Kristine Lynn Hall.
The officer found Kristine lying fully clothed in her bed. Authorities said the officer didn’t notice any immediate visible signs of injury. Her brother said she didn’t have any known life-threatening health issues.
He also told officers that Kristine had allowed her son, 39-year-old James Robert Hall, to move into her house approximately six months to a year before. “He said Kristine was afraid of James, slept with her bedroom door locked at night, and would never allow him to drive her vehicle,” a press release from the Holly PD said.
Additional officers who came to the scene reportedly noticed bruising on Kristine’s neck and “other indicators suggestive of a struggle.” An investigator with the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office came to the home to remove her body.
Authorities said James had an open felony warrant for breaking and entering.
Kristine’s car and James were both entered into the statewide law-enforcement network. Reports were received that the car had possibly been in the Jackson area.
“While officers were interviewing other family members, the victim’s daughter called to report that James had contacted their father and admitted to killing his mother,” the press release said.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety called the Holly PD to let them know James was in their custody on the open felony warrant. They also impounded Kristine’s car.
According to the press release, Kalamazoo officers were called to a party store after the clerk reported a man using the store’s phone said he was thinking of killing himself. Officers allegedly found James sitting in Kristine’s car in the store’s parking lot. While talking to the officers, James reportedly told them he recently killed his mother.
Holly PD investigators came to the jail in Kalamazoo to interview Hall. He allegedly also confessed to them that he killed his mother.
“Hall stated that on the evening of Monday, Nov. 24, he was passing by his mother’s bedroom when she called him inside,” the press release said. “He claimed she began verbally scolding him for his life choices and for not amounting to anything, which he said she was always telling him. Hall stated he became tired of hearing it, climbed on top of her and used a pillow to smother her to death.”
He then reportedly took money and jewelry from her and fled in her car. He said he drove to the Kalamazoo area. He used the party store’s phone to call his father, who he thought lived in the area. James told officers he told his father about the murder as well, the press release said.
James rented a room in the city and allegedly used the stolen money to gamble at a local casino.
Kristine’s death was ruled a homicide by strangulation and suffocation by the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office on Nov. 26.
James was taken into custody by Holly PD and lodged at the Oakland County Jail. He was arraigned on Nov. 26 on one count of felony breaking and entering with intent. His bond was set at $100,000.
James was arraigned on Wednesday on a further three charges. He was arraigned on one count of murder first degree, a life without parole felony, one count of motor vehicle – unlawful driving away, a 5-year felony, and larceny in a building, a 4-year felony.
Bond was denied during Wednesday's arraignment.
“On behalf of the Holly Police Department, we offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family who loved and cared for Kristine,” Chief Jerry Narsh said. “I am proud of the dedication and determination of our officers who worked continuously to bring closure to this case in less than 24 hours. We are also very thankful for the assistance from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety”
“James Hall was angry his mother was parenting him…so he killed her,” he said. “He took the life…that gave him life. Then he took her money, her jewelry and her vehicle because he was challenged on his life choices. Then he went to a casino.”
James’ probable cause conference is scheduled for Dec. 23.