Christopher Perrien

Christopher Perrien, 38, of Sand Lake, charged in the double homicide of a Delta Township couple, waived his arraignment in Eaton County Circuit Court last week.

He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Michael Greene, 62, and felony murder, in the death of Michael’s wife, Terri, 46. He also pled not guilty to two counts of felony firearm.

According to Eaton County Sheriff Mike Raines, Perrien became a suspect on September 27, within 5 days after the couple was found shot at their home. He reportedly became a suspect after policed discovered someone was using the victim’s cell phone and credit cards, and surveillance tracked the transactions back to Perrien. Evidence was also reportedly found in his storage unit.

Perrien allegedly committed the murders while out on work release. He was convicted and sentenced on a property crime on September 1 in Eaton County, and was granted work release by the court, despite a long criminal history.

“Perrien was assigned a probation/parole agent but his actual employment was never verified,” explained Sheriff Raines. “Our investigation determined he was on work release without actually having a job.”

Greene was a retired state police detective, and Perrien reportedly took Greene’s badge and police ID.

Some have wondered whether Perrien could also be tied to the murders in November 2010 of a Pierson couple with similar names, Michael and Kathy Greene. A sketch of a man seen in the area matches what Perrien looks like, and no suspect has been arrested in that case.

Christopher Perrien

A Sand Lake man has been charged in the murders of an Eaton County couple.
Christopher Allen Perrien, 38, of Sand Lake, was arraigned last week for the September 22nd murders of Michael and Terri Greene, of Delta Township. Perrien was charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of felony firearms. He is being held in the Eaton County jail with no bond.
According to Eaton County Sheriff Mike Raines, Perrien became a suspect on September 27, within 5 days after the couple was found shot at their home. He reportedly became a suspect after policed discovered someone was using the victim’s cell phone and credit cards, and surveillance tracked the transactions back to Perrien. Evidence was also reportedly found in his storage unit.
Perrien allegedly committed the murders while out on work release. He was convicted and sentenced on a property crime on September 1 in Eaton County, and was granted work release by the court, despite a long criminal history.
“Perrien was assigned a probation/parole agent but his actual employment was never verified,” explained Sheriff Raines. “Our investigation determined he was on work release without actually having a job.” He went on to say that “work release is a valuable tool, designed for those convicted of relatively minor offenses to serve their time in jail, while maintaining their ability to support a family. However, in my opinion, Perrien never should have been granted the opportunity for work release, considering his lengthy criminal history, which began nearly 20 years ago.”
Michael Greene was a retired Michigan State Police sergeant. Perrien reportedly took his badge and police ID.
Some have wondered whether Perrien could also be tied to the murders last November of a Pierson couple with similar names, Michael and Kathy Greene. A sketch of a man seen in the area matches what Perrien looks like, and no suspect has been arrested in that case. The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether it’s a coincidence or if it’s a possibility that Perrien murdered the Pierson couple in a case of mistaken identity.
Perrien’s preliminary exam is set for Thursday, January 5 at 10 a.m.

By Judy Reed
The State of Michigan Court of Appeals ruled last week that Bobby Jay Fisk, 28, is not entitled to a new trial in the murders of Robert and Norma Bean, 66, of Howard City.

Bobby Fisk

Fisk and Timothy Stephan, 29, both of Howard City, and both parolees, entered the Bean residence in the early morning hours of October 6, 2008 and stole their ATM card, a gun, and some Vicodin tablets while the couple slept. When they couldn’t get money out with the ATM card, they returned to the Bean home and kidnapped them at gunpoint and forced them into their own vehicle. The suspects then drove the Beans to various locations in Montcalm County in an attempt to obtain money. The suspects eventually drove the Beans to the 14000 block of Beardslee and murdered them.
Stephan pled guilty to the murders in 2009, and received life in prison. Fisk was convicted in 2010 and received four life sentences: one for kidnapping, one for armed robbery, one for felony murder, and one for premeditated murder, without possibility for parole. He also received 30 to 45 years on three counts of first-degree home invasion, 6 to 10 years for possession of firearms by a felon, two years for felony firearms. Fisk appealed the conviction and sentencing.
The Court of Appeals ruled that Fisk was not denied the effective assistance of counsel and is not entitled to a new trial. His appeal maintained that trial counsel was ineffective and should have moved to suppress Fisk’s statements to police immediately after the murders.

By Judy Reed

The Montcalm County Sheriff Department confirmed at a news conference last week that Michael and Kathleen Greene, of Pierson, were stabbed to death in their Whitefish Lake home before it was set on fire October 28.
Police are seeking the help of the public in bringing the killer or killers to justice.
“We remain absolutely committed to solving this crime and are continuing to pursue new leads and reexamine evidence,” said Montcalm Sheriff Bill Barnwell. “We have enlisted the aid of the Michigan State Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
The bodies of Michael Thomas Greene, 59, and his wife, Kathleen Marie Greene, 56, were found in the basement of their smoldering residence Thursday evening, October 28, at 3063 Shorecrest Drive, on Big Whitefish Lake, in Pierson Township. The Howard City Fire Department and Montcalm County EMS responded to the scene about 11:18 p.m. on a fire call and reported finding the two bodies inside the house.
Sheriff Barnwell said that cause of death for the couple was multiple stab wounds, and that evidence showed that Michael Greene bravely resisted or fought with his attacker prior to succumbing to his wounds.
The four-bedroom, 20-year-old lakefront home was for sale for $625,000. The couple had spent the days prior to the murders getting ready for sale of their home and the majority of their possessions. “They had been planning on downsizing their lives in order to pursue their new career of grandparenting,” explained Barnwell.
Some eyewitnesses reported a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of the Greene’s home that night, and police have issued a composite drawing of the suspect. Barnwell said the killer brought a lot of violence to the crime scene, and they expect that he is explosively violent in his personal life as well. There is evidence that he took a large quantity of cash and prescription medication before setting the home on fire and escaping. He may have had to explain a cut or injury to his hands the next day.
Barnwell said there is also evidence that a second person may have been present when the killer entered the Greene’s home. “It is to that other person that we would like to speak,” said Barnwell. “We are offering this second person a chance to come clean and remove this burden and fear from your conscience and mind, remove yourself from harm’s way, and help end the killer’s victimization of others. We understand you may fear your involvement that night could expose you to punishment; your coming forward will go a long way in positively determining your future life. No one should live in fear or danger from this killer. No family should ever have to lose their grandparents at his hands again.”
The police are also asking the public to come forward with any info they have, even if they think it may have been reported already. “It may be the case that someone encountered the killer around the time of the crime and thought his behavior odd or frightening. Someone may have heard an unusual conversation about the murder,” said Barnwell. If you have information, contact Det/Sgt Goerge at (989) 831-7590, ext. 7516 or the Sheriff’s Office tip line at (989) 831-593.
There are rewards for information leading to the arrest and bind over or conviction of the parties involved in the crime. The Michigan Arson Prevention Committee has up to a $5,000  reward for tips to them and may be contacted at 800-44-ARSON (800-442-7766). Silent Observer also offers up to $1,000 and may be contacted at (866) 774-2345, or you can report a crime on their website at silentobserver.org. You can also text Silent Observer a tip. Text “Tip138” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). The keyword TIP138 must appear on the first line of your text message in order to reach Silent Observer.
To see the complete news release from the Montcalm County Sheriff Department, visit http://www.montcalm.org/sheriff.asp and click on “News Releases” under the subheading Sheriff/Undersheriff.

Police are seeking this man as a person of interest in the murders of Michael and Kathleen Greene, of Pierson.

The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office has released a composite drawing of a man who may have been in the area the day Michael and Kathleen Greene were murdered in their home at Whitefish Lake in Pierson. The couple was found in their burned out home on October 29, but did not die from the fire. Police are not yet releasing how they died. The man was seen in the area in the early evening driving a light-colored passenger vehicle.

Anyone with information should call Detective Sergeant Tom George with the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office at 989-831-7516 or 989-831-7590.