Rose Marie Derrick, 67, was convicted by a Calhoun County Jury of 2nd Degree Murder in the stabbing death of Battle Creek resident Walter May after a 2-day trial. The jury deliberated approximately 4 hours before returning their verdict in this 2020 homicide.
May, who was 61 at the time of his death, was found unresponsive by emergency responders in the early morning hours of December 14, 2020, at the apartment he shared with Derrick on College Street. At the time, Derrick claimed May was having difficulty breathing. He was later pronounced dead. The day prior, May had been released from the hospital after receiving a stab wound to the chest on December 5. At that time, May had stated he did not know how he had gotten stabbed. First responders observing May on December 14 found no obvious signs of new injury.
But an autopsy found an additional stab wound on May which was covered with a medical dressing like the dressing on the prior wound, showing May had been stabbed a second time after being released from the hospital, with that wound being bandaged prior to first responders arriving. A knife was recovered from the apartment as well as bloody clothing belonging to Derrick. The blood on her clothing was later found to belong to May. Derrick had claimed she did not know how May was stabbed.
Sentencing is scheduled on November 28, 2022, before Judge John Hallacy. 2nd Degree Murder carriers a maximum penalty of up to Life in prison.
