A Warren man has received a lengthy prison sentence following his no-contest plea in a case involving the shooting death of his roommate, whose body was concealed for months. Donald Dawan Renfroe, 26, was sentenced to serve between 31 and 60 years for the second-degree homicide of James Wilkins, according to CBS News Detroit. The additional charges include tampering with evidence, concealing the death of an individual, and a felony firearm charge.
On June 8, 2023, in their Warren apartment, Renfroe fatally shot 27-year-old Wilkins, who was reported missing by concerned relatives the day following his disappearance. During their investigation, authorities eventually unearthed Wilkins' body in Northern Michigan's Oscoda Township, as recorded by Audacy. The case grew particularly cold before Renfroe's associate, Darius Glenn, cooperated with police and provided information that led to the discovery of the crime.
Search warrants executed at Renfroe's apartment revealed a patched bullet hole and suspected blood. According to ClickOnDetroit, Renfroe was found to have purchased cleaning supplies on the day Wilkins went missing. Evidence indicated that Renfroe, with Glenn's assistance, attempted to erase signs of the crime before hiding Wilkins' remains.
"This case is tragic on every level. A young man lost his life, and another young man threw his future away by choosing violence," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido stated, as obtained by CBS News Detroit. Renfroe will concurrently serve his sentences for tampering and concealing charges, following the overturned soil and grass that detectives found in Oscoda Township, which marked the final resting place of Wilkins.
The sentencing, which took place yesterday, also mandated that Renfroe serve an additional two years consecutively for the felony firearms charge. Prosecutor Lucido's statement emphasized that despite Renfroe's youth and his attendant potential, his violent actions necessitate accountability and serve to provide justice for Wilkins' mourning family. Darius Glenn is scheduled to face sentencing later in the month, as mentioned in the information provided by Audacy.
