Crime & Safety

Hearing Postponed in Royal Oak Woman's Stabbing Death (w/video)

Defense for Christopher Michael Hearn, charged with open murder in the Sept. 19 slaying of Ranae Ann Chupick, is granted time to review evidence and autopsy reports.

About a half-dozen family and friends of Ranae Ann Chupick were in Royal Oak court Friday morning for the preliminary examination of her accused killer, but the hearing was postponed.

Christopher Michael Hearn, 23, of Clinton Township is of 41-year-old Chupick of Royal Oak, in her Rochester Road apartment on Sept. 19.

Friday, Judge Terrence Brennan rescheduled Hearn's  preliminary exam to Oct. 28 to grant his defense time for review evidence  and autopsy reports to be completed.

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Defense attorney Steven Lynch indicated for the record that he had received some information from Assistant Prosecutor Jason Pernick. "I would like to note that the prosecutor did give me a copy of the recent discovery I believe he has at this point, including a DVD he sent me last Wednesday," Lynch said in court Friday.

and was arrested on a charge of domestic assault on Chupick in 2010 but not convicted. Hearn was released from state prison in January 2010 after serving about 3 1/2 years on a Livingson County home invasion conviction, state records show.

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One of Chupick's friends in the courtroom today was Richard Mackie. The two have been friends for approximately nine years, he said. Mackie said he believes he may have been the last person to talk to Chupick before her death.

"Ranae was a real sweet person," Mackie said. "She could find good in anyone."

Mackie, who also knew Hearn, said the accused wanted to marry Chupick, who would tell Hearn, "I have a kid. Find someone your own age." Mackie said Hearn had "no money and no car" and that Chupick would help him financially when she could.


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