GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Grand Rapids Police arrested a man in connection to a homicide that happened over the weekend near Grand Rapids Community College.
Marcus Bivens, 19, is being charged with open murder in the death of 34-year-old Jeanne Huntoon.
Huntoon's body was found early Saturday morning at the GRCC parking ramp at 143 Bostwick NE. Police said over the weekend that a witness called police saying that they saw a man dragging a body between two buildings on campus.
Monday FOX 17 spoke with Huntoon's best friend since middle school, Crystal Sanders, as she sorted years of pictures of Jeanne and herself on her kitchen counter.
“It still doesn’t really seem real," said Sanders, who had last spoken with Huntoon Thursday, saying Huntoon said she was doing well, living in Grand Rapids.
The GRPD calls this a random killing, stating neither Bivens or Huntoon had any current connection with GRCC. Huntoon had been accepted as a student years ago but never attended classes.
Sgt. Terry Dixon said Bivens approached Huntoon around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, between the parking ramp and campus. The two spoke briefly, then the conversation quickly turned violent. Bivens allegedly used a knife to stab then beat Huntoon to death.
"We do believe this was a random act of violence in this city," said Dixon.
Sanders and family told FOX 17 they don't understand this random killing that took away their loved one. Sanders recalled years of memories, as well as Huntoon's dreams of working in sports medicine, how she "smiled with her bright blue eyes," and her vibrant free spirit.
"‘Don’t Stop Believing’ was always our song that we would sing," remembered Sanders.
"I’d drive a Camaro and we would always take the top down and we would just sing as loud as we could. And that’s Jeanne’s life story right there is ‘don’t stop believing’: Jeanne never stopped believing herself, stopped believing her friends, and her mom."
Sanders said Huntoon was working on living on her own in Grand Rapids, and said Huntoon recently told her mother that Grand Rapids is where she wanted to make her life.
Sanders said this violent ending is not how her dear friend and bright spirit will be remembered.
“This moment should never define who Jeanne was," said Sanders.
"This is something that should have never happened but this is not a moment to define Jeanne. Everyone needs to remember how much of an inspiration, how loving, caring, and bright and sweet Jeanne was, and that’s what everyone needs to remember.”
Family told FOX 17 there is no way they could have prepared for this and are raising money for burial expenses. See their GoFundMe pagefor Jeanne here.
Bivens is expected to be arraigned on an open murder charge Tuesday.
