‘INNOCENCE DENIER’ WAYNE CO. PROS. KYM WORTHY CONTINUES BOGUS APPEALS OF THELONIOUS SEARCY’S 2022 EXONERATION
By Diane Bukowski
May 10, 2026
We are asking all justice lovers to support Thelonious ‘Shawn’ Searcy this week in court as he battles for permanent freedom after Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Hathaway dismissed all charges against him WITH PREJUDICE October 3, 2022. Among other issues, Judge Hathaway cited the prosecution’s deliberate suppression of the actual caliber of a bullet taken from the victim’s body, not consistent with the gun alleged to be the murder weapon.
Judge T. Hathaway/Thelonious Searcy
“This Court concludes that the damage caused by the suppression and withholding of the exculpatory evidence cannot be cured,” Hathaway ruled. “Therefore, it holds that dismissal of the charges is appropriate given the severe and deliberate violations of the defendant’s due process rights that denied him a fair and impartial trial. Accordingly, this Court GRANTS defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.”
See full ruling at http://voiceofdetroit.net/wp-content/uploads/Thelonious-Searcy-Order-Gg-Defs-Mtn-to-Dismiss-10.3.20223311-3-1.pdf
A Court of Appeals panel overturned Hathaway, saying he had “abused his discretion” as a trial judge by ordering the permanent dismissal of charges, a ruling termed dubious by legal experts.
Judge Margaret Van Houten
Wayne 3rd Circuit Court Judge Margaret van Houten is now handling pre-trial hearings on the original murder charges against Searcy. On Nov. 19, 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court ordered Judge van Houten to hold “Daubert” hearings set for May 11, 12, 13 and 14, saying she had abused HER discretion by “failing to act as a gatekeeper of expert opinion testimony.”
“In lieu of granting leave to appeal, we VACATE the May 23, 2025 order of the Wayne Circuit Court denying the defendant’s motion to exclude expert testimony on ballistics and toolmark identification. The trial court abused its discretion by failing to act as a gatekeeper of expert opinion testimony under MRE 702. Gilbert v DaimlerChrysler Corp, 470 Mich 749, 782 (2004). We REMAND this case to that court to conduct an evidentiary hearing to consider whether the plaintiff’s proposed expert testimony meets the criteria of MRE 702.”
Michael Jackson-Bolanos
Judge Van Houten earlier sentenced Michael Jackson-Bolanos to a term of eight months to 15 years for “lying to police” after a jury acquitted him of murder and home invasion charges in the 2023 death of Detroit Synagogue leader Samatha Woll, despite the Department of Corrections recommending an 18-month probation.
The case became a cause celebre among many in the Black community who viewed it as an example of an impoverished Black man railroaded for the death of a well-to-do white woman. Judge Van Houtens’ stunningly biased remarks at Bolanos-Jackson’s sentencing can be heard below. Jackson-Bolanos is still in prison.
VOD STORIES ON THELONIOUS SEARCY CASE SINCE 2018
