74-year-old Sandra Layne in court on July 2, 2012. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJBK) -
Sandra Layne is a former schoolteacher, mother of five, grandmother of nine and at 74 years of age, an accused killer. We are learning more about what happened that day she allegedly pulled the trigger ending her grandson's life.
"I had told her to keep her hands up. As she was walking out of the house with her hands up, she had advised me and screamed to me that 'I murdered my grandson,'" said West Bloomfield Officer Derrick Kassab.
He testified in 48th District Court that Layne admitted to police she murdered her teenage grandson, Jonathan Hoffman. It was May 18, 5:27 in the evening, officers were called to Layne's upscale condo on Brookview Lane when a neighbor heard gunshots.
Officers arrived to the sound of more gunfire from inside the home. At the same time, Hoffman was on the phone with 911.
(Watch Ronnie Dahl's video report to hear a portion of that call. We must warn you -- it is very disturbing.)
During Layne's preliminary hearing, officers described a bloody scene inside -- bloody footprints in the master bedroom, blood in the kitchen, the laundry room and the upstairs loft where Hoffman was found.
It was determined ten shots were fired from Layne's gun, a Glock she recently purchased. Half of the bullets hit Hoffman at close range. The 17-year-old was shot three times in the chest, once in the arm and once in the stomach.
Layne's attorney says Hoffman's drug use set off the argument that led to the deadly shooting.
Dr. Reuben Ortiz Reyes testified Hoffman tested positive for K2 in his urine, but not his bloodstream, so he wasn't under the influence of drugs at the time.
"He tested positive for spice. It was a violation with his probation. He was concerned about going to jail and he wanted to do certain things, and that's when the argument erupted," said Jerome Sabbota, Layne's attorney. "She was fearful. She killed a person that she loved, that she tried to save. There are no winners. No matter what we do to her, it doesn't really matter. Watch her. She's in her own hell."
Layne's attorney described Hoffman as a troubled teen, a punk, that got in and out of trouble.
Hoffman's parents live in Arizona and were not in court on Monday. Meanwhile, the case has been bound over to circuit court and Layne remains behind bars.
Sunday, June 9 2013 10:38 PM EDT2013-06-10 02:38:07 GMT
Tucker Cipriano and Mitchell Young both entered pleas of not guilty Tuesday in the brutal attack on Tucker's family. We're learning both of their attorneys want separate trials.
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Sunday, June 9 2013 10:36 PM EDT2013-06-10 02:36:59 GMT
A brutal baseball bat murder shocked metro Detroit and helped to spark the crackdown on synthetic marijuana. Now the two young men accused in that attack are heading to trial.
A brutal baseball bat murder shocked metro Detroit and helped to spark the crackdown on synthetic marijuana. Now the two young men accused in that attack are heading to trial.
Saturday, February 23 2013 11:33 PM EST2013-02-24 04:33:03 GMT
An AK-47, three other long guns and two handguns are now off the streets of Detroit. The weapons were confiscated by Wayne County Sherrif's deputies during a raid at a suspected drug house.
An AK-47, three other long guns and two handguns are now off the streets of Detroit. The weapons were confiscated by Wayne County Sherrif's deputies during a raid at a suspected drug house.
Saturday, February 23 2013 8:56 PM EST2013-02-24 01:56:59 GMT
Michigan's road to recovery could take a big hit if congress allows $85 million in cuts to the defense department. Tens of thousands of jobs could be at risk in our state, especially in Macomb County.n.
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Monday, February 18 2013 6:38 PM EST2013-02-18 23:38:52 GMT
A mother is pained beyond words. Her three-year-old daughter was killed in a crash Sunday on Detroit's west side less than a block from her house. The chaotic scene was visible from her front door.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:40 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:40:48 GMT
Nearly a hundred years ago, two girls from Detroit put a message in a bottle and threw it into the waters of the St. Clair River. Now that message is back on dry land after being found by a diver in 30 feet of water.
Nearly a hundred years ago, two girls from Detroit put a message in a bottle and threw it into the waters of the St. Clair River. Now that message is back on dry land after being found by a diver in 30 feet of water.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:20 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:20:12 GMT
Detroit mayoral candidate Mike Duggan ended his campaign Wednesday and will not challenge an appeals court ruling that bars him from the August primary ballot.
Detroit mayoral candidate Mike Duggan ended his campaign Wednesday and will not challenge an appeals court ruling that bars him from the August primary ballot.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:13 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:13:58 GMT
A search of a rural field in suburban Detroit has failed to turn up the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, an FBI agent announced Wednesday as authorities ended the dig.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 9:45 AM EDT2013-06-19 13:45:33 GMT
Kid Rock has added an eighth date to his "$20 Best Night Ever" tour at DTE Energy Music Theatre. Officials say tickets for the Aug. 20 show will go on sale at 10 a.m. on June 22.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 9:22 AM EDT2013-06-19 13:22:54 GMT
FBI agents in suburban Detroit began a third day of digging Wednesday in the search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared 38 years ago.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 8:41 AM EDT2013-06-19 12:41:21 GMT
Mike Duggan is expected to lay out his future plans Thursday, one day after an appeals court ruled that he doesn't meet Detroit residency requirements to put his name on the ballot for the Aug. 6 primary elections.
Mike Duggan is expected to lay out his future plans Thursday, one day after an appeals court ruled that he doesn't meet Detroit residency requirements to put his name on the ballot for the Aug. 6 primary elections.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 7:35 AM EDT2013-06-19 11:35:18 GMT
Detroit City Council member Kwame Kenyatta says he quitting Friday. Kenyatta didn't give a specific reason, but he says the council is virtually powerless now that Detroit is being run by an emergency manager.
Detroit City Council member Kwame Kenyatta says he quitting Friday. Kenyatta didn't give a specific reason to radio station WWJ, but he says the council is virtually powerless now that Detroit is being run by an emergency manager.
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