KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Three people are facing charges in connection with the Nov. 7 homicide of Richard Priebe.
Priebe, 50, was found dead when officials responded to a house fire on Jonquil Avenue SW near 60th Street in Byron Township. Autopsy results determined he died from a stab wound to the neck.
Roger Alan Davis, 43, is facing murder charges in connection with Priebe’s death as well as charges of second-degree arson, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He’s charged as a fourth-time habitual offender.
Two other people, 44-year-old John Mark Liebek and 38-year-old Angie Marie Smith, are also charged in connection with the incident.
Liebek is facing charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent and possession of a financial transaction device, according to a release. He will be charged as a fourth-time habitual offender.
Court documents detail what investigators believe happened inside Priebe's home the night he was killed. The Kent County Sheriff's Department writes that Smith admitted to being inside the home at the time Priebe was killed and that she watched Davis cut Priebe's throat several times.
It also states she admitted to stealing from Priebe after his murder, saying she took two wallets and a checkbook. She's charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Investigators wrote that Liebek also admitted that Davis killed Priebe. They also said he confessed to using the suspect's credit card at a Wal-Mart on 54th Street.
A person who lives in Priebe's neighborhood, who didn't want to be identified, said Priebe was physically disabled. He said he believes it made him an easy target.
"The one leg was much smaller than the other and his right arm was probably pretty useless to him as well. There was no way he could defend himself," they said.
Both Davis and Liebek have lengthy criminal records. Davis has a prior arson conviction along with a charge from 1992 of escaping prison. Liebek has arrests for burglary and credit card fraud. Both men have prior charges of car theft.
Smith's record appeared to be clean until now. Her and Davis were both arraigned Monday in 63rd District Court. Liebek will be charged at a later date.
As of Monday night, Davis and Smith were still in custody. However, online records show Liebek was released.
