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Ross Sentenced for Murder; Woods Faces Retrial in March

1/31/2026

Center

Ross Convicted, Woods Mistrial

Issiah Ross, the defendant, was convicted of second-degree murder for Devin Clark's death after claiming self-defense that Clark shot Woods first.
The jury could not reach a verdict on Lyric Woods's first-degree murder charge, creating a mistrial after four days.
Judge Stephanie Reese sentenced Ross to 20 to 25 years for Clark's murder.
Prosecutors plan to retry Woods's case in March as they assess jurors' sentiments.

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Michael Haley Convicted

Michael Haley, 70, was convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of Russel Delonge, 64, in Otsego County, Michigan.
The shooting occurred at their shared residence in Hayes Township.
Haley was arrested in June and faced a homicide charge.
The conviction carries a potential life sentence without parole, and the prosecutor's office confirmed the verdict.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Supreme Court's 1980 ruling in "Gregg v. Georgia" reinstated the death penalty, significantly impacting murder convictions across the nation. This led to increased second-degree murder cases, prompting states like Michigan and Virginia to revise their laws. Recent convictions of Issiah Ross and Michael Haley highlight ongoing complexities in self-defense claims and jury decisions, reflecting evolving standards of justice in homicide cases.

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Ross Convicted, Woods Mistrial

Issiah Ross, the defendant, was convicted of second-degree murder for Devin Clark's death after claiming self-defense that Clark shot Woods first.
The jury could not reach a verdict on Lyric Woods's first-degree murder charge, creating a mistrial after four days.
Judge Stephanie Reese sentenced Ross to 20 to 25 years for Clark's murder.
Prosecutors plan to retry Woods's case in March as they assess jurors' sentiments.

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