Woman charged with killing child's foster parents in Washtenaw County ordered to stand trial

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - One of the three suspects charged with killing two adults, injuring a third and abducting two girls from a Northfield Township home on New Year’s Day is headed to trial.

Shuvonne Vinson, 42, had a preliminary examination at noon in Ann Arbor’s 14A District Court. 

Vinson's case was bound over for trial with all charges carried over with her bond denied, according to Judge Cedric Simpson.

Vinson, along with Gregory Callhan, 37, and Keith Finley, 60, were all charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and more, for the New Year's Day double murders that shook the town of Northfield.

"What makes this case so sickening is it wasn't just about (Vinson's daughter)," Simpson said. "It was about them going into the house and just creating mayhem and then taking the individuals' monies and then, Zelling money, and taking time to do that, prior to the time of executing these individuals."

The backstory:

Police said the three suspects showed up to a home on Nollar Bend Drive in Northfield Township around 8:30 p.m. on January 1. 

Stevie Smith, 74, and a married couple, 48-year-old Jennifer Bernhard and 52-year-old Jeffrey Bernhard were inside the home with two young children, ages 9 and 4.

The girls, one is Bernhard's biological daughter and the foster child was Vinson's biological daughter. 

Police said when the three suspects arrived, there was an argument and all three victims were shot. 

Smith and Jennifer were both killed in the shooting. Jeffery was injured in the shooting.

After the shooting, police said the suspects took the young children from the home.

The girls, ages 4 and 9, were taken from the home but were later found safe and physically healthy. One of the girls was found on Rowley Court in Ypsilanti and the other little girl was on Lexington Parkway, about two minutes away.

Victim testifies:

Jeffery took the stand Tuesday to testify about what happened that night. According to his testimony, he heard noises before seeing three people, one he recognized as Vinson and two other people in his home. 

Jeffrey who testified with a large scar on his head, missing his right eye, gave chilling testimony.

He said Vinson accused the Bernhards of not allowing their foster child, her biological daughter, to believe in God. Jeffrey went on to say that Vinson threatened the couple, and said he could hurt them even behind bars. At one point, Jeffrey said he was struck in the face with what he believed to be the butt of a weapon.

"She wanted us to believe that she had power over us," he said, noting that Vinson appeared to be in charge of the two other people with her.

According to Jeffrey, Vinson asked where his money was. She allegedly took his wallet and credit cards before using Jeffrey's phone to transfer $6,000 out of his account. Later, Jeffrey discovered other personal belongings that were elsewhere in the house.

"The amount of time that they spent in our home seemed like a very long time for someone just coming in to take their daughter," Jeffrey said.

Eventually, Vinson ordered the men with her to take her daughter out of the home. After, the victims were shot. Jeffrey survived being shot in the chest and head.

When it was the defense lawyer's turn to question Jeffrey, he asked if Jeffrey knew about allegations Vinson had made that her daughter was being sexually and physically abused. Jeffrey said he did not hear about these allegations until after the shooting, adding that Vinson did not mention them when she accused the family of not letting the child believe in God. 

While Jeffrey was being questioned, the judge ordered Vinson, who had been making faces during testimony and at one point appeared to put her middle finger up while playing with her hair, out of the courtroom.

Vinson blew a kiss at court attendees on her way out. 

A police detective testified to finding the victims including Jeffrey Bernhard who survived his injuries.

"The right side of his face had massive damage," said Det. James Basso. "It was completely swollen up. Very bloody. We had removed his t shirt, and then there was a gunshot wound to his chest as well."

A Washtenaw Sheriff Deputy Gabriel Bechtol who came across Shuvonne Vinson outside the Lexington Parkway residence that night.

Bechtol testified she told him she was searching for her son and gave a false name, calling herself "Ty."

While she was detained, other responding officers stopped a vehicle in the area with two men inside and a juvenile girl inside. A shotgun was discovered in the rear hatch, he said.

A search of Vinson found a loaded 9MM pistol under her left armpit, Bechtol said.

Officer in Charge Jason Roberts testified that no evidence by investigators has ever been found in connection to allegations Vinson made that her daughter was being sexually assaulted by the Bernhards.

He said during questioning that Vinson did not mention any assaults of her daughter to him.

"The only assault she ever mentioned was someone pushed her daughter during a virtual visit and they would not let her daughter use the word 'holy,'" he said.

He said she admitted to being involved in the shooting.

"She said that she shot them," Roberts said. "She said whoever was in the house, she shot them. "

Simpson praised the bravery of Jeffrey Bernhard and his testimony.

"If I may state just given the testimony of Mr. Bernhard, I'll say that I find not only his testimony incredibly compelling, but he is amazing in a lot of ways," the judge said. "And quite frankly, only through God's grace could have been here even to testify, in this case."

What are the charges?:

The three suspects, all from Detroit, are charged with 12 counts by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office.

• Two counts of open murder.
• One count of assault with intent to murder
• One count of home invasion in the first degree
• Two counts of kidnapping – child enticement
• One count of conspiracy to commit murder
• One count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping – child enticement
• One count of conspiracy to commit home invasion in the first degree
• One count of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent
• One count of stolen property - receiving and concealing a motor vehicle
• One count of felony firearm

Additionally, Vinson was charged with 7 more charges for her actions during the arrest.

• Four counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer
• One count of carrying a concealed weapon
• One count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person
• One count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person

Finley faces an additional charge of possession of a gun by an ineligible person.

What's next:

Vinson's pretrial is set for Oct. 1. Callhan and Finley will have a pretrial meeting on Aug. 13 at 1:30 p.m. in Washtenaw County’s 22nd Circuit Court.