GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Robin Lynn Root will head to trial for the 2007 murder of Janna Kelly.
The 52-year-old Kent County woman waived her preliminary hearing in Kent County 61st District Court Wednesday and was bound over to circuit court for trial. She is facing an open murder charge in Kelly’s death.
Root allegedly pushed Kelly during an argument at Kelly’s Grand Rapids home on Dec. 4, 2007. According to court documents, Kelly was unconscious when Root put her in the trunk of her car.
Police say Root returned the next day, saw Kelly was deceased and drove to Ottawa County to dispose of her body. Kelly’s body was found in the 16000 block of Pierce Street in Grand Haven Township on March 13, 2008.
Investigators claim Root confessed to the crime during questioning earlier this year, but her attorney is hoping to get that confession thrown out. A date for that court hearing has not yet been scheduled.
According to court documents, Kelly had evicted Root in March 2007 after Root was behind on rent by roughly $2,900. On the night of Kelly’s murder, Root allegedly told her that she was unable to pay back the money
Root was initially facing charges in Ottawa County, but the case was transferred to Kent County earlier this month.
