SAGINAW, MI — A jury has found Earl L. Mack guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and five firearm offenses in the fatal shooting of his wife in their Saginaw home. The verdict, reached almost three years after the incident, means the 73-year-old Mack will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The jury deliberated for several hours on Friday, March 8, before delivering the guilty verdict. As a result, Mack faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Chief Assistant Prosecutor of Saginaw County, Blair N. Stevenson, explained that the evidence in the case was clear-cut, leading to a relatively quick verdict for a capital case.
On the early morning of March 19, 2021, Mack shot his 51-year-old wife Avele L. “April” Mack in her bedroom. While Mack’s defense attorney did not dispute the fact that the shooting occurred, he argued that it was an accidental discharge rather than an intentional act.
After shooting his wife, Mack called for his 10-year-old grandson in another room to contact emergency services. He then proceeded to fire several shots into the exterior of his house before discarding the .38-caliber revolver nearby. The police later discovered the weapon, which contained two live rounds and three fired ones. DNA analysis indicated that the revolver likely had Mack’s DNA on it.
During the trial, Mack did not testify, but his grandson did. The young witness’s testimony, which recounted hearing his grandparents arguing before a gunshot, played a crucial role in swaying the jury in favor of premeditation.
Mack offered conflicting versions of his wife’s death during an interview with detectives, further raising suspicions that the shooting was not accidental. Additionally, when left momentarily unattended by the investigators, he grabbed a water bottle and doused his hands, a potentially incriminating action indicating his awareness of gunshot residue.
Throughout her prosecution, Assistant Prosecutor Shellbe A. Sanborn presented a strong case against Mack. Stevenson commended her efforts, stating that she had done an excellent job.
Mack, who has been in custody since the day of the shooting—March 19, 2021—will remain incarcerated until his sentencing, the date of which is yet to be determined. Avele Mack is survived by two children and multiple grandchildren. Her obituary describes her as a loving and skilled cook who took pride in gathering her family to celebrate life. She was also a dedicated caregiver and an active member of Emmanuel Church of Deliverance under the leadership of Mother Carter.
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