The fatal shooting outside a Port Huron gas station last fall has taken a sharp legal turn, with the woman accused in the killing formally telling the court she plans to claim she was legally insane when it happened.
Amber Lee Oile, 36, filed notice earlier this month in St. Clair County Circuit Court that she intends to pursue an insanity defense in connection with the October 2025 shooting.
According to the Port Huron Times Herald, Oile submitted a written "notice of intent to assert insanity as a defense" last Tuesday. The filing is now part of the circuit court record while prosecutors continue to press an open murder case tied to the gas station killing.
Prosecutors allege 30-year-old Reginald Franklin was shot multiple times on October 13, 2025, at the Marathon station on Military Street and later died at Lake Huron Medical Center, as reported by WGRT. Security video and witness testimony were outlined during earlier hearings, and Oile was arrested the same day. She has remained jailed without bond as the case advanced to circuit court.
What a notice of insanity does in Michigan
Under Michigan law, once a defendant files a written notice that they intend to claim insanity, the court must order a psychiatric evaluation. That evaluation is carried out by staff from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry or other qualified professionals for up to 60 days, according to Michigan Compiled Laws.
The statute spells out deadlines for prosecutors to offer rebuttal evidence and limits how statements from the court-ordered exam can be used at trial. Those reports often become the backbone of pretrial maneuvering, shaping everything from scheduling to whether mental health experts will take the stand.
Where the case goes from here
The new filing is expected to trigger evaluations that could slow the path to trial while examiners complete their work and attorneys sift through expert findings.
Oile's case was sent to circuit court in late December after earlier proceedings, and court records show that pretrial hearings are already on the calendar as both sides prepare their arguments, Port Huron Times Herald reported.
Legal implications
Oile is facing charges of open murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, with potential penalties up to life in prison. Those charges were detailed in prior coverage by WGRT.
Filing an insanity notice is not a confession of guilt. It is a signal that the defense plans to put Oile's mental state front and center and to present evidence about her condition at the time of the shooting. That step typically leads to expert evaluations and additional court hearings.
Depending on what the examinations show, the court could move into competency proceedings, order treatment or commitment, or pursue other options that are available under Michigan law. For now, the March 3 filing ensures that questions about Oile's sanity will be a key factor in what happens next in the Port Huron case.
