A man accused of killing his girlfriend allegedly covered up her death for months and asked for help finding her after she went missing.
39-year-old Timothy Day allegedly choked 42-year-old Brenda Hooper to death on October 12 in their apartment on West Clay Avenue in Muskegon, Michigan.
He kept her body in the apartment for some time before putting the remains into garbage bags and disposing of them in an alley near Summit Avenue and Sixth Street in Muskegon Heights, Assistant Muskegon County Prosecutor Katie Norton said Wednesday, February 9.
The body was found a day earlier.
Day is charged with open murder, a potential life offense, and concealing the death of an individual, a five-year felony.
He was ordered held without bond at his arraignment before Muskegon County District Judge Raymond Kostrzewa.
On October 19, a week after the murder, Day sought help on his Facebook page in finding Hooper.
“Hello Facebook family and friends, I really need everyone’s help trying to reach out to my girlfriend Brenda Hooper. No one has seen nor heard from her in a week. She was last seen walking with our black puppy.
“If anyone has seen or talked to her within the last week please reach out to me or her family as soon as possible thank you all…
“Let’s keep her in our prayers…”
Norton, the prosecutor, said the defendant admitted to police he fatally choked the victim at the couple’s apartment. She said Day went to great lengths to conceal the killing before leaving the remains in the alley.
Day left prison nearly two years ago after completing an 18-year sentence for assault with intent to murder, Michigan Department of Corrections records showed.
He told others that “he wasn’t going back to prison,” Norton told the judge.
As the prosecutor spoke, Day shook his head back and forth and said, “No, no, not the truth.”
Norton said the victim in the previous case was also a woman. She asked for a high bond. She said Day likely had no place to stay because he was being evicted and those closest to him were family and friends of the victim.
“I have family, too, your honor,” Day responded.
Attorney Fred Johnson, who was appointed to represent Day, interrupted, and said, “Please don’t say anything, Mr. Day. We talked about this. Please don’t say anything. Thank you.”
Johnson told the judge he would seek a mental-health evaluation to determine his client’s criminal responsibility.
Day is charged as a third-offense habitual offender.
A preliminary examination is set for Feb. 28.
Tell us your thoughts...