By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Theodore Wafer, 57, the Dearborn Heights man who shot and killed Renish McBride in 2013 on his front porch might be getting a new sentence after an appeal in the case.
The Michigan Court of Appeals called for the resentencing after it upheld Wafer’s second-degree murder, manslaughter and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony charges on April 6.
In September 2014, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Hathaway sentenced Wafer to the minimum years in prison for the charges because she “could not go below the sentencing guidelines” at the time.
Since then, the state’s sentencing rules have changed from the 2014 sentencing of Wafer and the guidelines are no longer mandatory because the court can now go below those guidelines.
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that judges are required to consider sentencing guidelines, but are not restricted to them.
Wafer is qualified for a new hearing and possible sentence change.
“We’re pleased that the convictions were affirmed,” Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office Spokeswoman Maria Miller said.
The incident occurred in November 2013 when McBride,19, was shot and killed on Wafer’s front porch after she crashed her vehicle and was searching for help.
McBride had marijuana and alcohol in her system at the time of the incident.
Wafer said he shot the victim in self-defense because he thought she was trying to break into his house in the 16800 block of Outer Drive at 4:40 a.m.
He was sentenced to 17 to 30 years in prison for the crimes and is currently serving his time at the Alger Correctional Facility in Munising.
In June 2015, McBride’s family agreed to an undisclosed financial settlement which was not released due to a confidentially agreement.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)