Charges Might Be Filed In April Millsap's Murder; Attorney Says Person Of Interest Is Innocent
ARMADA (WWJ) - Murder charges could be forthcoming in the death of a 14-year-old girl who was found strangled along a popular nature trail, but an attorney for a man named as a person of interest in the case says his client is innocent.
April Millsap was found dead July 24 in a drainage ditch along the Macomb Orchard Trail near Fulton and Depot roads in Armada. She died of blunt head trauma and asphyxia due to neck compression, according to a medical examiner's report.
Less than a month later, police named 32-year-old James VanCallis, Jr. -- 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.
Now, reports say VanCallis is going to be charged with Millsap's murder.
"We haven't received any official reports from the prosecutor's office that he is going to be charged but my speculation is, at this point, that charges could be on the horizon," Attorney Dean Ankouny told WWJ's Charlie Langton. "That being said, we feel that Mr. VanCallis had nothing to do with the murder of April Millsap. He maintains his innocence."
Ankouny said VanCallis grew up in Armada and has many friends and family who live there, but he stopped short of saying where his client was the day Millsap was killed.
"He may or may not have been in Armada on the day of the April Millsap murder, but obviously he frequents Armada, and he only lives 15-20 minutes from that location," Ankouny said. "But he's had absolutely no contact with her -- never met her."
VanCallis and his entire family have apparently been cooperating with investigators but Ankouny thinks police have been misguided since the beginning.
"We hope that police are not rushing to justice in this matter, trying to find somebody who would fit the description of somebody who could actually commit this crime. Obviously we don't feel that it's my client. We feel like they're zeroing in on the wrong person and that the real killer of April Millsap is still out there," he said.
Regardless, Ankouny said the truth will be revealed in court.
"We are prepared if they do in fact charge him with this crime, he is prepared to defend himself and to clear his name," he said. "We're all looking for the right person to be charged with this crime."
VanCallis remains jailed with his father, awaiting an October 20 trial on drug charges.
Anyone with information on Millsap case is urged to call police at 877-616-4677. Tips may also be submitted online at www.michigan.gov/michtip.
[Complete Coverage: April Millsap Murder]
