Michael Ketchum, age 47, pleaded no contest last week to the murder of his cellmate at the Macomb County Correctional Facility in Lenox.
On October 18, 2022, Ketchum went to breakfast and stabbed another inmate multiple times. Officers then went to his cell where they discovered Ketchum’s cellmate, Ruben Martinez, hogtied, strangled, and stabbed to death underneath his bunk.
Ketchum was charged with First Degree Murder, a life without parole felony, Assault with Intent to Murder, a life felony, and Prisoner in Possession of a Weapon, a five-year felony. Ketchum pleaded no contest to First Degree Murder.
The other charges will be dismissed at sentencing because the second victim refused to fully cooperate with the initial investigation. He later agreed to the plea, understanding that the First Degree Murder conviction would absorb the sentences for the other charges.
Ketchum is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, April 23 by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Viviano.
"By pleading no contest to First Degree Murder, the defendant has taken responsibility for his actions, ensuring justice for the victim’s family and his loved ones. This guarantees that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.
On October 18, 2022, Ketchum went to breakfast and stabbed another inmate multiple times. Officers then went to his cell where they discovered Ketchum’s cellmate, Ruben Martinez, hogtied, strangled, and stabbed to death underneath his bunk.
Ketchum was charged with First Degree Murder, a life without parole felony, Assault with Intent to Murder, a life felony, and Prisoner in Possession of a Weapon, a five-year felony. Ketchum pleaded no contest to First Degree Murder.
The other charges will be dismissed at sentencing because the second victim refused to fully cooperate with the initial investigation. He later agreed to the plea, understanding that the First Degree Murder conviction would absorb the sentences for the other charges.
Ketchum is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, April 23 by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Kathryn Viviano.
"By pleading no contest to First Degree Murder, the defendant has taken responsibility for his actions, ensuring justice for the victim’s family and his loved ones. This guarantees that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido.
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