CARO (WWJ) - A homeless man was charged with multiple felonies in the shooting death of a 44-year-old Redford man and his cat at a rural cottage in Tuscola County one week ago, authorities announced.
Jeffery S. Evans, 41, of Columbiaville appeared in court on Monday afternoon and was arraigned on nine charges in the case, including open murder, third-degree killing or torturing an animal, carrying a concealed weapon, two counts of assaulting or resisting police, and four counts of felony firearm.
Evans is accused of fatally shooting 41-year-old Shawn Maxwell of Redford around 11 p.m. on March 1 at a rural cottage in the 4000 block of Kirk Road in Vassar Township, roughly 13 miles east of Frankenmuth.
Evans faces up to life in prison with no chance of parole if he is convicted of murder.
Michigan State Police said troopers in the Bay Region were dispatched to the home last Wednesday after Maxwell's brother called 911.
The brother told police he had not been able to reach Maxwell, who he had last spoke to earlier in the day, but his subsequent phone calls went unanswered. When the brother arrived, he discovered Maxwell and his cat deceased inside the cottage.
Tuscola County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Eric F. Wanink said both had fatal gunshot wounds and troopers were able to recover multiple spent shell casings near Maxwell's body.
When state police searched the property, they also found an AR-15-style rifle with a suppressor in the victim's vehicle parked in the driveway, which authorities determined was the murder weapon — but no suspect was found.
The brother told police he believed Maxwell had taken in a homeless person at the cottage which was owned by their family. Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Maxwell had picked up a man, identified as Evans, in Lapeer and brought him to the cottage. A neighbor witnessed the two men arrived on the rural property around 4 p.m., police said.
MSP said they believed Maxwell and Evans got into an argument and Evans opened fired on the victim and his cat. A manhunt for Evans lasted about a day after the alleged murder before he was taken into custody around 7:30 p.m. on March 2.
Wanink confirmed Evans was armed with a pistol at the time of his arrest.
During his arraignment on Monday (March 6) afternoon, Evans said he was diagnosed with ADHD and had social anxiety disorder while his family described him as “particularly paranoid and unstable in the days leading up to the murder.”
Evans remains in jail on $5 million bond. He is due back in court at 8:30 a.m. on March 22.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Maxwell family to help cover funeral expenses.
Organizer Scott Davenport said Maxwell was "taken far too soon" and that all proceeds will go directly to Maxwell's family.
As of Tuesday morning, the crowd funding page has raised $620 of their $20,000 goal.
"Please help if you can if you can't please share," Davenport wrote. "We can't give out to many details as it's an ongoing investigation. Please give the family some space. As details arise, I will update accordingly."