x
Breaking News
More () »

Victim's family starts petition to extend Anthony Blamer's sentence

Family members of murder victim D'Anthony Keenan are collecting signatures online ahead of the sentencing for Anthony Blamer.

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Anthony Blamer was found guilty of second-degree murder in July for the death of D'Anthony Keenan. Investigators found Keenan's body, without the head and hands on a two-track in the Manistee National Forest on Aug. 5, 2017.

Detectives accuse Blamer of dismembering Keenan, a charge relating to that was filed in Newaygo County shortly after police arrested Blamer.

Members of Keenan's family who attended the July murder trial in Muskegon were disappointed the judge who decided the case didn't find Blamer guilty of first-degree murder.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory life in prison sentence. The lesser charge of second-degree murder is punishable by any number of years up to life in prison.

Keenan's sisters started an online petition drive to collect signatures the family plans to show the judge during a sentencing hearing. They hope the signatures and their statements will convince the judge to give Blamer the longest prison term possible under state law.

"I've been seeing a lot of people who've been supportive," said Sherri Moore, Keenan's mother.

As of Monday Aug. 20, more than 1,600 people have signed the petition and shown the family their support. Moore and other family members hope to collect at least 2,500 signatures by the end of the month.

Blamer is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10. Moore believes the petition will give her son a voice in court even though he's gone.

"He is not here anymore, there's nothing he can do," said Moore. "So I have to be his voice, his family has to be his voice."

Moore will be asking the judge to sentence Blamer to at least 50 years in prison.

"Because I'll be dead then," said Moore.

"I'm going to be siding on the family with this one," said D.J. Hilson, Muskegon County Prosecutor.

Hilson says Blamer's sentence guidelines have not yet been calculated by the Department Of Corrections. Those state guidelines give judges guidance when determining a sentence.

It's normal for judges in Michigan to sentence within the guidelines. They can however go above or below the state's recommendation.

"I will absolutely be asking the court to exceed the guidelines on this particular case," said Hilson.

Moore says not only is she planning to speak to the judge at the September sentencing hearing but also directly to Blamer too.

"You threw him away like he was everyday trash, like he didn't have a family that loved him, but he did," said Moore.

At the trial, the Muskegon County judge also found Blamer guilty of a felony firearm charge and carrying a concealed weapon. He ruled Blamer was not guilty of armed robbery, an element essential to reach a first-degree murder conviction.

Felony charges for mutilation of a dead body and concealing the death of an individual in Newaygo County were dismissed without prejudice in order for the murder trial in Muskegon County to happen first.

That legal maneuver means the charges can be re-file at a later time.

Newaygo County prosecutor Ellsworth Stay released a statement Monday stating, "I have been in contact with the victim's family and a decision on future action will be made after the murder sentencing."

Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.

Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.

Before You Leave, Check This Out