KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A Battle Creek man who spent the last 21 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit is officially a free man.
Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting announcing on Thursday, June 1 that charges against Jeffery Titus for a double murder that happened more than three decades ago were being dismissed.
Lawyers, friends and supporters gathered with an emotional Titus at the 8th District Court in Kalamazoo as Getting made the announcement during a press conference.
Titus was convicted in August of 2002 for the November 17th, 1990 murders of hunters Doug Estes and James Bennet on the Fulton State Game Area in Kalamazoo County, which was next to his property. It was alleged that he murdered the two hunters for shooting deer on his property.
Even though Titus was released from prison on February 24th, the prospect of a criminal trial still loomed for the now 71-year-old man. In his remarks, Getting said he made the decision not go ahead with a trial due to many factors ranging from stalled investigations, differing witnesses, along with those involved with the case passing away, as well as another key suspect, Thomas Dillon, who died in prison in 2011.
He went onto say that the trial would ultimately be moving forward without key witnesses who are no longer available due to the passage of time.
Fighting back tears, Titus said that despite all the time lost in prison, it would do him no good to be angry.
Titus had been cleared of the initial investigation in 1990 before a cold case team reinvestigated, leading to Titus’ conviction.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a police officer and also worked in the security detail for President Richard Nixon. Upon returning to Kalamazoo County, he worked as a security guard at the VA Medical Center.
