Michigan
Man wrongly convicted of killing 2 Michigan hunters in 1990 agrees to $5.25M settlement
DETROIT — A man who spent nearly 21 years in prison for the deaths of two Michigan hunters agreed to a $5.25 million settlement after accusing police of failing to turn over evidence that could have helped him at trial, a lawyer said Monday.
Jeff Titus was released in 2023 and his murder convictions were erased at the request of prosecutors. The Innocence Clinic at University of Michigan law school and two investigators got authorities to acknowledge that an Ohio serial killer might have been the person who killed the hunters in 1990.
Titus had long declared his innocence.
“It’s been a long road for Jeff,” attorney Wolf Mueller said. “He’s 74. He lost two decades of his life. The money doesn’t make up for the loss of decades, but it allows him to put this part of his life behind him.”
An email seeking comment from the lawyer who defended a retired homicide detective in the lawsuit wasn’t immediately answered.
Doug Estes and Jim Bennett were fatally shot near Titus’ property in Kalamazoo County in 1990. Titus initially was cleared as a suspect, but murder charges were filed against him 12 years later. Prosecutors portrayed Titus as a hothead who didn’t like trespassers.
Students and staff at University of Michigan law school were trying to get him a new trial when a 30-page file from the original investigation was discovered at the county sheriff’s office. It was a blockbuster: It referred to an alternate suspect, Thomas Dillon of Magnolia, Ohio.
Jacinda Davis, at the TV network Investigation Discovery, and Susan Simpson, through the podcast “Undisclosed,” had raised doubts about Titus’ guilt and aired questions about Dillon’s possible role.
Dillon died in prison in 2011. He was arrested in 1993 and ultimately pleaded guilty to killing five people in Ohio who had been hunting, fishing or jogging.
The lawsuit that was settled Monday did not center on Dillon as an alternate suspect. Rather, police were accused of violating Titus’ rights by not sharing information that could have cast doubt on the trial testimony of a key witness, Mueller said.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 6, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Daily 3 numbers from June 6 drawing
Midday: 0-1-0
Evening: 1-1-3
Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily 4 numbers from June 6 drawing
Midday: 9-2-4-0
Evening: 6-2-2-0
Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Poker Lotto numbers from June 6 drawing
2D-4D-7D-9D-8S
Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from June 6 drawing
09-13-28-35-38
05-07-12-21-39
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily Keno numbers from June 6 drawing
01-06-11-12-14-16-18-25-26-27-33-34-38-46-47-48-51-52-53-60-68-71
Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Classic Lotto 47 numbers from June 6 drawing
04-09-19-29-41-45
Check Classic Lotto 47 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto Double Play numbers from June 6 drawing
01-11-15-37-39-45
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lottery’s Regional Offices.
To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:
Michigan Lottery
Attn: Claim Center
101 E. Hillsdale
P.O. Box 30023
Lansing, MI 48909
For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a driver’s license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2.
If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows:
- Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325
- Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325
- Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325
- Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325
- Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325
- Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325
For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s prize claim page.
When are Michigan Lottery drawings held?
- Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m.
- Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily
- Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily
- Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily
- Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Madison Heights, Michigan, city employees are working to repair six water main breaks that happened on Friday night, officials said.
City workers responded to the ruptures around 8:30 p.m. According to officials, crews with the Department of Public Services have since been working to make repairs.
Officials said Saturday morning that a break at 29633 Shackett Ave. was in the process of being repaired and incidents at the following locations are anticipated to be repaired by Sunday:
- 29604 Howard Ave.
- 26639 Groveland St.
- 26145 Delton St.
- 133 E. Barrett Ave.
- The intersection of 11 Mile Road and Vance Street
A break at 29090 Campbell Rd. was repaired by Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
As of Saturday morning, there is no boil water advisory in effect for residents, though officials said they may experience temporary outages or discolored water.
“If discoloration occurs, please run the cold water tap until the water clears,” officials said in a social media post. “We understand these issues are frustrating and appreciate your patience as our crews continue working to restore the system.”
Officials have yet to disclose what caused the breaks.
Editor’s note: This video previously aired on May 1, 2026
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — On Friday evening, the West Michigan Whitecaps honored Walker’s fire chief, who died unexpectedly last month.
Russell “Rusty” Shoultz, was well-known throughout West Michigan and among first responders nationwide. Walker Mayor Gary Carey previously called the loss “profound.”
Shoultz was appointed to the role of fire chief last summer and his first day was July 1. He had more than 30 years of experience in fire protection, law enforcement, emergency response and public health. Just before coming to Walker, he was chief of special operations for the St. George Fire Protection District near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Many first responders were in attendance Friday, with members of the fire department telling News 8 that it was impactful to see Shoultz honored.
Walker firefighter Brendan Bennett said Shoultz was already preparing the department for his retirement.
“Working with the skills he was teaching us, we still have the day to day things we have to do with our department and we’re still able to accomplish them well and I think he was getting us in a good spot for that,” Walker firefighter Brendan Bennett said.
— News 8’s Rachel Van Gilder and Katherine Connolly contributed to this report.
-
Movie Reviews4 minutes agoFilm review #5: The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg
-
World7 minutes agoSoccer-Iran World Cup Players Granted Visas to Enter the US, Says White House Official
-
Lifestyle52 minutes agoSummer TV season has arrived — here’s what you shouldn’t miss
-
Technology1 hour agoJMGO’s N3 Ultimate projector is the new portable 4K champ
-
World1 hour agoPro-US conservative faces leftist in Peru’s high-stakes presidential runoff
-
Politics1 hour agoGOP firebrand lashes out at reporter over Massie allegation: ‘F— you, first of all!’
-
Health1 hour agoScientists unveil ‘living bandage’ that could dramatically speed wound healing
-
Sports1 hour agoGolden Knights beat Hurricanes in double OT Game 3, one of the wildest Stanley Cup Final games of all-time
