MUSKEGON, Mich. — Jeffrey Willis, 53, is serving two life sentences for the murders of Jessica Heeringa and Rebekah Bletsch. Now, Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson confirmed to 13 ON YOUR SIDE that Willis is trying to get those convictions overturned and have new trials.
This is not the first time Willis has tried to have his convictions overturned. He also appealed the convictions in 2019. Previously he has appealed his conviction on issues such as violation of attorney-client privilege and also that some of the evidence used in the trial should not have been admitted. Despite these arguments, his convictions were upheld.
Now, Willis is asking a judge to grant a pair of motions for "relief from judgment" as reported by Mlive. The motions, according to Mlive, ask the judge to grant an evidentiary hearing to "develop the facts." After the evidentiary hearing Willis is asking the court to grant his motions for relief and new trials ordered.
Willis' argument this time is that Hilson, who was the prosecutor in both of Willis' trials, fabricated bullet evidence and that Hilson committed perjury during the trials along with a Michigan State Police Tenant.
Willis was found guilty of the 2014 killing of Bletsch in 2017, and was found guilty of the 2013 kidnapping and murder of Heeringa the following year.
In 2020 the Michigan appeals court affirmed both convictions.
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