COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Coldwater man was booked Sunday at the Branch County Jail on charges in connection with the June 3, 2018 death of an Ovid Township man.
Branch County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Zachary Stempien says 41-year-old Chad Danbury has been charged with second degree murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. The second degree murder charge is a life sentence upon conviction, while the maximum penalty for the assault charge in Michigan of ten years in prison.
Danbury is free after posting a $250,000 surety bond. An arraignment in Branch County District Court has not been scheduled yet.
36-year-old Grant Gregory Morrison died at his home in the 400 block of Morning Glory Lane, where Michigan State Police investigators say a fight took place between Morrison and Danbury.
Michigan State Police Troopers were dispatched at about 12:25 a.m. that morning on a report of an assault at the residence. Morrison was unresponsive when troopers arrived and CPR efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He had reportedly been choked during the fight.
State Police reported that both men had been drinking throughout the night, and Morrision’s blood alcohol level reportedly tested .24, three times the legal limit to drive.
Medical Examiner Dr. Troy Davis said at the time that the cause of death was asphyxiation due to neck compression.
The Branch County Prosecutor’s Office declined to pursue charges. Ralph Kimble was the Prosecutor at the time. He said in July 2018 that he and Assistant Prosecutor G. Scott Smith did a formal review of the entire police report on the incident from Michigan State Police and could not find criminal intent by Danbury.
Stempien said Danbury was charged following further investigation by the State Police.
