Trial Delayed For Man Accused In 14-Year-Old April Millsap's Death
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ/AP) - A trial is expected to be delayed for a 33-year-old man accused of killing a 14-year-old girl along a popular Macomb County nature trail.
The delay is because assistant prosecutor William Cataldo is taking over the case after Therese Tobin, the office's chief trial attorney, accepted a position as a federal administrative law judge.
James VanCallis' trial, originally planned for next week, will now begin Oct. 14.
VanCallis is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to rape in the death of April Millsap. Authorities say the St. Clair County man hit her with a motorcycle helmet and stomped on her neck in July 2014 while she was walking her dog along Macomb Orchard Trail in Armada.
Millsap was reported missing July 24 by her mother after she failed to return home from walking her dog, Penny, which she did nearly every night. Her body was found hours later in a drainage ditch near Fulton and Depot roads. Penny alerted a couple of joggers to the girl's body.
A police officer testified that Millsap's blouse "was torn from her body and moved to around her waist area. Her undergarment had been removed from around her waist and were down about the ankles." A medical examiner ruled she died blunt head trauma and asphyxia due to neck compression.
Less than a month later, police named VanCallis — who was arrested alongside his father on drug charges after a search connected to the murder revealed an alleged marijuana growing operation at their home — as a person of interest in Millsap's death. He was officially charged on Oct. 9.
VanCallis has maintained his innocence and a defense lawyer said there's no DNA evidence linking VanCallis to Millsap's death. However, three witnesses say they saw him talking with Millsap along the trail shortly before her body was discovered, and a shoe print on Millsap's body also matched the "unique" print of athletic shoe worn by VanCallis, prosecutors have said.
VanCallis, who faces life in prison if convicted as charged, remains jailed without bond.
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