A Highland Township murder case that shook a tight-knit mobile home community is officially headed to a jury next summer, with 21-year-old Michael Devon Webb set to stand trial in the killing of his fiancée, 23-year-old Rachel Renee Wooten.
Prosecutors say Webb fatally shot Wooten at their home on April 15, 2025. Wooten was found with a single gunshot wound to the neck and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the couple's infant son was discovered inside the residence unharmed. Webb is awaiting trial on a first-degree premeditated murder charge and a felony firearm count, as Oakland County prepares for what is expected to be a closely watched courtroom showdown next summer.
Jury Date And Judge Assigned
As reported by The Oakland Press, jury selection is scheduled to begin July 13, with the case assigned to Oakland County Circuit Judge Michael Warren. The schedule keeps the case on track for a full jury trial in the summer of 2026.
Charges And Prosecutor's Statement
The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office has charged Webb with first-degree premeditated homicide and one count of felony firearm, according to a county news release. Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald stated in the release that "Rachel Wooten was just 23 and a mother of an infant" and pledged that her office would pursue justice in the case. The statement also notes that a conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Investigators Reject 'Accidental' Shooting Claim
Investigators say Webb called 911 and reported that he had accidentally shot both himself and Wooten while cleaning a gun. Authorities now contend that physical evidence at the scene does not support that account.
Deputies found Wooten with a close-range gunshot wound to the neck and Webb with a nonfatal gunshot wound that prosecutors say may have been caused by the same bullet, according to ClickOnDetroit. Officials have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers.
Scene And Community Impact
The shooting took place in the 200 block of Maple in the Highland Hills mobile home community, located off Highland Road (M-59) just west of Milford Road, according to The Oakland Press. Neighbors and relatives described being stunned by the violence, and online fundraisers for Wooten's family circulated in the days after her death.
Officials say the infant found in the home was not physically harmed. Investigators continue to seek additional witnesses or information as the case moves toward trial.
Legal Stakes And Next Steps
Webb is being held at the Oakland County Jail and has been denied bond, according to ClickOnDetroit. The county news release notes that first-degree murder is punishable by a mandatory life term without parole, per the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
Pretrial motions and hearings are expected in the coming months as attorneys prepare witness lists, expert testimony, and evidentiary challenges ahead of jury selection next summer.
Broader Context
Intimate partner violence accounts for a large share of homicides of women, with national data indicating that nearly half of female homicides are connected to current or former intimate partners, according to a CDC analysis. Prosecutors and public health officials say cases like this highlight the continuing need for prevention efforts and survivor support services across the region.
Jury selection on July 13, 2026, will provide the first public test of the prosecution's case in Oakland County Circuit Court, where court watchers are expected to pay close attention to how witnesses, expert opinions, and forensic evidence are presented. This story will be updated as new court filings, hearings, or official statements become available.
