advertisement

Man accused of raping Michigan girl now charged in her death

DETROIT (AP) - A man charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old Michigan girl is now accused of killing her while free on bond, preventing her from testifying in the rape case.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Wednesday that two men are facing charges connected to the death of Mujey Dumbuya. Her partially clothed body was found in January in Kalamazoo woods about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from her Grand Rapids home. Her cause of death was listed as "asphyxia, including strangulation" on the death certificate.

The man accused of rape, Quinn James, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and other crimes. He's accused of sexually assaulting Mujey last summer and then killing her while he was free on a $100,000 cash bond in the case.

James' co-defendant, Gerald Bennett, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Police said in a probable-cause affidavit that he contacted Bennett through someone in Detroit after seeking someone to help him with the slaying and disposing of her body. He also gave Bennett a vehicle as payment, the document said.

Investigators have alleged the men plotted to kill the teenager, but few details have been released about the killing and specific roles the men played in it. They are jailed awaiting arraignments.

Kentwood District Judge William Kelly had wide discretion to set the amount of James' bond with the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge, which pertains to the sexual assault of a minor. Authorities picked him up on Feb. 1 on an unrelated 2014 sexual assault charge and the bond in the case involving Mujey was increased to $250,000 after she died.

"When I set the $100,000 bond, Mujey was alive," Kelly said last month.

Becker told The Associated Press Wednesday afternoon that the bond appeared appropriate to him at the time, given the charge.

"$100,000 is not an insignificant amount - it was a substantial cash bond that Kelly put out," Becker said. "He posted bond - it happens."

The AP left a message Wednesday for James' attorney, Jonathan Schildgen, who has said his client didn't kill Mujey or sexually assault her.

In this Wednesday, March 28, 2018 photo, Gerald Bennett appears for a hearing at the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids, Mich. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Wednesday, April 11 that two men, Bennett and Quinn James, are facing charges connected to the death of 16-year-old Mujey Dumbuya. Her partially clothed body was found in January about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from her Grand Rapids home. (Neil Blake /The Grand Rapids Press via AP) The Associated Press
In this Wednesday, March 21, 2018 photo, Mujey Dumbuya's mother, Fatmata Corneh, left, is comforted by Mujey's aunt, Jainya Sannoh, as they listen to testimony during a hearing for Quinn James at Kentwood District Court in Grand Rapids, Mich. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Wednesday, April 11 that two men, James and Gerald Bennett, are facing charges connected to the death of 16-year-old Dumbuya. Her partially clothed body was found in January about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from her Grand Rapids home. (Cory Morse /The Grand Rapids Press via AP) The Associated Press
In this March 21, 2018 photo, defendant Quinn James, left, sits with his defense attorney Jonathan Schildgen, right, during a hearing in Kentwood, Mich. James, charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old Michigan girl, is now accused of killing her before she was expected to testify in the rape case, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Wednesday, April 11, 2018. Investigators have alleged James and co-defendant Gerald Bennett plotted to kill the teenager. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP) The Associated Press
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, left, announces Quinn James has been charged in the January killing of East Kentwood High student Mujey Dumbuya, during a press conference at the Grand Rapids Police Department, Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Grand Rapids, Mich.. Also pictured is Kalamazoo Police Det. Bill Moorian, center, and Kalamazoo Police Capt. Shannon Bagley. Becker said that two men, James and Gerald Bennett, are facing charges connected to the death of Dumbuya. Her partially clothed body was found in January about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from her Grand Rapids home. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP) The Associated Press
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announces Quinn James has been charged in the January killing of East Kentwood High student Mujey Dumbuya, during a press conference at the Grand Rapids Police Department, Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Becker said that two men, James and Gerald Bennett, are facing charges connected to the death of Dumbuya. Her partially clothed body was found in January about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from her Grand Rapids home. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.