Troy Tyo [REMAINS DISCOVERED] from Allegan, MI since Dec 4, 2007

[The Kitchen Guy]

Man leaves for work, not seen since

Link: WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?s=7448409)

ALLEGAN -- An Allegan County man is missing, and authorities are investigating a suspicious scene near his home.

Troy Paul Tyo left for work at 6 a.m. Monday and hasn't been seen since, causing concern for his family and the sheriff's office to investigate.

He left his home on Sarah Street in Allegan to go to work at the Perrigo Warehouse. But he never made it, and he also never picked his kids up from school later that day. His wife told investigators that this is out of character for him.

A search then began and led investigators to that suspcious scene in the Dumont Creek Estates in Allegan Township. That is where investigators found some blood.

"It does appear that some form of trauma did appear to an individual in this area," said Lt. Frank Baker of the Allegan County Sheriff's Department. "Some sort of altercation occurred there, or some type of incident involving someone sustaining some injury. There is evidence of trauma."

Tyo was wearing dark blue cargo pants, camouflage boots, a Perrigo sweatshirt, a light blue jean jacket and a black baseball cap with gold lettering.

He was driving a 2005 white GMC Sierra extended cab pickup truck with Michigan license plate number 2JBB86. The truck has a Harley-Davidson sticker in the rear window and a red-white-and-blue sticker in the windshield.

If you have any information, you are asked to call the Allegan County Sheriff's Department.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Troy Tyo is also a hemophiliac, so the fact that there is evidence of
blood involved is especially alarming.

[Grande]

Troy Tyo is also a hemophiliac, so the fact that there is evidence of
blood involved is especially alarming.

Agreed.

:1222423:

Thanks for posting this thread!

[The Kitchen Guy]

The story is in the Missing Found (http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?p=7863#post7863)forum.

Body found inside truck; 2 held for murder

Link: WOOD Television Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7471094)

Posted: Dec 8, 2007 10:43 PM EST
Updated: Dec 9, 2007 03:43 PM EST

VAN BUREN COUNTY - A man and woman are being held on an open murder charge after a body was found in a burnt truck that matched the description of one owned by a missing Allegan man.

The Allegan County Sheriff's Department told 24 Hour News 8 the interior of the truck was burnt, and there was a considerable amount of blood at the scene.

Authorities also confirmed the woman, 38, and the man, 28, were acquaintances of Troy Tyo, the man missing since he left for work at Perrigo Monday morning. Additionally, police searched Tyo's ex-wife's house in Gobles.

An autopsy is being performed on the body, and a confirmed identity will be released afterwards.

The man and woman in custody are scheduled for arraignment Monday afternoon. 24 Hour News 8 will continue to follow this story.

[Roamer]

Used to live in Michigan, and visited relatives many times in Allegan.

I was surprised to see it on the thread.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Look in the Found forum and you'll probably be even more unpleasantly surprised.

I used to live in Jennison - and was surprised to have TWO missing person reports from the area. While the Tyo case appears to be on its way to resolution, the other is not so far.

[Roamer]

Thanks, KG, I'll do that.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Tyo's attacker lay in wait, police say
Posted by Gazette News Service December 10, 2007 15:34PM
(http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2007/12/tyos_attacker_lay_in_wait_poli.html)
ALLEGAN -- The new husband of a Gobles woman was waiting to attack her ex-husband, Troy Tyo, with a ball bat and a knife as Tyo went to dump trash last week, detectives said this morning in court.

Detectives this morning sought murder warrants in Allegan County District Court against Kristofer Thompson and his wife, Dena, for the killing of Tyo, a father of two caught in a bitter custody dispute.

Police say ongoing strife between Tyo and his ex-wife, Dena Thompson, led up to the killing.

Tyo's body was found Sunday in a Van Buren County gravel pit, inside his white extended-cab pickup truck, about one mile from Thompson's home.

Allegan County sheriff's Detective Morgan Sullivan, while testifying for the warrant, said Kristofer Thompson started talking with investigators this morning and "indicated he had hit Tyo with a baseball bat and later cut his throat."

Dena Thompson knew what was going to happen and had "requested that her current husband kill the ex-husband," Sullivan said.

The couple was expected to be arraigned this afternoon in Allegan County District Court.

Court records show a bitter divorce between Tyo and his ex-wife, Dena Thompson, chiefly over custody of the couple's two children, ages 10 and 6.

The Tyo and Thompson were expected in court as recently as Nov. 21, but Dena Thompson a day before earlier an effort to get sole physical custody and change the children's school district from Allegan to Gobles, where she lives with Kristofer Thompson. She also wanted Tyo to have only supervised parenting time.

Court records show Troy Tyo and Dena Thompson were divorced in September 2006. Even before the divorce, in February 2006, Tyo accused his then-wife of having an affair with Kristofer Thompson and wanted a judge to prevent the children from being in Thompson's presence.

After the divorce, the strife between the two worsened, particularly in July when Dena Thompson accused Tyo of slapping one of their children. Tyo's parenting time was briefly suspended but was reinstated after a child-protective-services worker dismissed the complaint.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Ex-wife, current husband, 2 more accused in Allegan murder

Link: WOOD Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7471094&nav=0RceHYfO)

By DEE MORRISON

ALLEGAN - Four people, including the ex-wife and her current husband, are implicated in the death of Troy Tyo, a man missing since he left for work December 3.

Tyo's ex-wife Dena Thompson, 38, and her current husband Kristofer Thompson, 28, were arraigned on open murder charges in court Monday afternoon.

When Tyo's family and friends arrived at the 57th District courthouse, the Allegan County Sheriff's Department pulled them aside to tell them two more people were under arrest in connection with Tyo's murder.

Their names will be released at their Tuesday arraignment. "They were not associated with Troy at all," said Lt. Scott Mattice. "They were close associates of Kris and his wife."

And, police say, more arrests could still come.

Dena Thompson, known as Winky, and her husband Kristofer were arraigned by a video hook-up to the Allegan County Jail, where they're being held. Family, friends and co-workers were in the courtroom to watch the proceedings, and many were crying very hard.

She's being held on a $1 million bond.

Authorities said things are moving quickly since two hunters found Tyo's missing pickup truck near a Van Buren County gravel bit, partially burned and with a body inside.

An autopsy will determine the identification of the body, but investigators believe it is the 49-year-old Tyo.

The "why" is something family and friends can't understand. Squeezed into a courtroom too small to hold them, everyone in town seems to know the former volunteer firefighter who grew up in Allegan.

Tyo's best friend, Mayor Rick Day, spoke outside the court. "I can't imagine what kind of sick individual would kill anybody, much less the father of their children."

24 Hour News 8 searched the September 2006 divorce records between Tyo and Dena Thompson. Tyo accused her of having an affair with the man who's now her husband, Kristofer Thompson.

In July 2007, she tried to get sole custody of their two daughters, reporting Tyo hit one girl. Child Protective Services investigated and dismissed the complaint, and on November 20, a judge denied her request for custody.

Two weeks later, Tyo disappeared.

Police said they don't think this was a spur-of-the-moment crime.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Four Suspects Connected to Dissaperance and Murder Of Troy Tyo

December 10, 2007 - 6:40PM
Link: WWMT Television, Kalamazoo, MI (http://www.wwmt.com/news/tyo_1345437___article.html/troy_monday.html)

ALLEGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - There are now four people under arrest for the disappearance and murder of Troy Tyo. We have been following this case since last Monday when Tyo left for work and never came home.

A man led police to Tyo's missing truck this weekend in a ditch near Gobles. Police also found a body in the partially burned pickup. Two suspects in Tyo's death were in court Monday. Two others are in jail.

The two arraigned in court Monday were Tyo's ex wife and her husband. The two new arrests officers say Tyo didn't even know them.

A tearful family crowded into the courtroom Monday afternoon. Getting a look at Dena and Kris Thompson. The two people officers say crafted and executed a plan to murder Troy Tyo.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases I've worked,” said Lt. Scott Matice of the Allegan County Sheriff's Department.

Friends of Troy are in disbelief and shocked once over the murder itself. “It's absolutely an outrage,” said friend Rick Day.

When officers informed them just before Monday afternoon's arraignment. Two new arrests. Two people they say were friends of Kris and Dena. But people Troy never knew personally. “I know everybody however many it ends up being will be brought to justice,” said Day.

Justice is the thing neighbors are looking for too. “ I hope they get everything they got coming to them,” said neighbor Jeff Smith

In the hearts of many are kids who got caught up in the middle of a sad story. Two children whose father was murdered and whose mother and stepfather are now in jail accused of the crime. “The kids lose both parents, it's a very sad situation,” said Smith

Officers said they believe that only one of the two people arraigned today were involved in the ditching of Tyo's truck. As for the two new suspects they will be in court tomorrow, and officers are saying that more arrests are possible.

There are several locations of interest in this case. First, Troy Tyo lives in Allegan and his truck was left in a ditch just southeast of Gobles. Secondly, both Tyo and one of the suspects, Kristofer Thompson, were co-workers at the Perrigo plant in Allegan.

According to records, Tyo and his ex-wife had been in court as recently as last month over a custody dispute. Since divorcing in 2006, they shared custody of their two daughters. According to filings from the case, Tyo was accused of slapping his daughter, 9, in the face last July during a family outing. This led to an investigation by child protective services. Tyo's attorney said the investigation was closed less than a month later with no charges against him.

During that time Thompson filed a motion seeking full custody of the couple's two daughters, and asking for child support from Tyo, according to Troy's attorney. That custody case was dismissed on Nov. 20th less than two weeks before Tyo went missing.

Investigators are not commenting on a motive for this murder, but they did tell us they are aware of the custody battle. In fact, Tyo's attorney says he met with detectives about this case.

Friends and family are also saying they believe the court fight could have been the spark that led to this crime. “It's traumatic and a terrible situation, and we're keeping the children first and foremost to get them as much professional help and love around them and hope for the best,” said Day.

As of Monday night Tyo's daughters are staying with family members.

[hinman]

This man seemed truly wonderful. It sickens me to think of what he went through and now his children are left to suffer.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Two more face charges in Tyo death
Link: Chronicle News Service December 10, 2007 (http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2007/12/update_two_more_face_charges_i.html) 16:47PM

ALLEGAN -- With a husband and wife already facing murder charges for allegedly killing an Allegan man, police say they have made two more arrests of people who allegedly helped in the plot.

The names of the two suspects, expected to be arraigned Tuesday on unspecified charges, were not released today, but a detective earlier said one of the suspects drove Kristofer Thompson to an area near victim Troy Tyo's home before Tyo was assaulted killed.

Thompson is from Gobles. He and his wife, Dena Thompson, who is Tyo's ex-husband, were arraigned Monday on open murder in the Dec. 3 death.

Kristofer Thompson is held without bond, while a magistrate set a $1 million bond for Dena Thompson.

[The Kitchen Guy]

They killed over custody fight, police say
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
By John Tunison
Link: The Grand Rapids Press (http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-39/119738443466520.xml&coll=6)

ALLEGAN -- When Troy Tyo went missing last week from his Allegan home, Judi Yunginger suspected Tyo's ex-wife might be involved.

"She was a real control freak," said Yunginger, Tyo's aunt. "She tried so many times to make it so he couldn't have the kids at all."

Police believe a bitter custody battle over the divorced couple's two children spawned a plan to kill Tyo. And early Dec. 3, as Tyo was preparing to leave for his job at Perrigo, Dena Thompson's new husband of eight months allegedly carried out the attack, detectives said in court while testifying to get an arrest warrant Monday.

"She had requested that her current husband kill her ex-husband," said Allegan County sheriff's Detective Morgan Sullivan.

"She was aware (her husband) left with a baseball bat and was going to confront and assault Troy," Sullivan testified, reciting admissions made by the wife.

Thompson, 38, and her husband, Kristofer James Thompson, both of Gobles, were arraigned Monday on charges of open murder in the death of Tyo, 36, whose body was discovered Saturday in a former gravel pit in Van Buren County, a mile from the Thompson residence.

Police also have arrested two other people, a man and a woman, described as accessories in the case. An investigator said one of the two other suspects allegedly drove Kristofer Thompson to a spot near Tyo's home in Dumont Creek Estates the morning of the killing.

Names of the two people were not released, pending their arraignments today in Allegan County District Court.

Testimony by the two detectives gave details of the attack, with one detective describing how Kristofer Thompson "indicated he had hit Tyo with a baseball bat and later cut his throat."

According to court documents, police said Thompson allegedly ambushed Tyo, hitting him with the bat, loaded him into Tyo's pickup, then used the knife when he began to move.

Police arrested Kristofer Thompson after they went to his house Saturday and discovered he had two stab wounds to his side from an apparent fight. About the same time, Tyo's body was found inside his white pickup in a nearby gravel pit, amid signs someone unsuccessfully had tried to set the inside of the truck on fire.

Detectives testified Dena Thompson helped bandage her husband's wounds. They have store video of her buying gauze.

Court records show a September 2006 divorce between Tyo and his ex-wife brought bitterness, chiefly over custody of the couple's two children, Brittany, 10, and Allie, 6.

The two were expected in court as recently as Nov. 21 over attempts by Dena Thompson to get sole physical custody, change the children's schooling from Allegan to Gobles and allow Tyo only supervised parenting time. But she dropped the effort the day before the hearing.

Tyo's relatives, including Yunginger, claimed Dena Thompson figured she would lose.

The problems began long before the split was final, court records show. When Dena Thompson filed for divorce in February 2006, Tyo accused his then-wife of having an affair with Kristofer Thompson and asked a judge to prevent the children from being in the man's presence.

All three worked for Perrigo at the time. Dena moved to Gobles during the separation and re-married in April 2007. Tyo also recently re-married.

After the divorce, the strife between the two worsened, particularly in July when Dena Thompson accused Tyo of slapping one of their children. Tyo's parenting time was briefly suspended, but it was reinstated after a Children's Protective Services worker dismissed the complaint.

Tyo's death -- and the weekend arrests -- stunned many in Gobles, a small town south of Allegan where families mark generations. Friends, who know Dena Thompson by her nickname "Winky," had just celebrated a reunion for Gobles High School's class of 1987.

"Winky is just one of the most adorable girls you'd meet," said a friend, who grew up with her and remained close through the years.

"It's not real. I've known her my whole life. Winky and Troy are two of the best people I know."

The woman did not want her name used because she is close to both families and did not want to offend Tyo's family. She said it was difficult to think of the couple's two daughters losing both parents. Both parents adored their children.

"They were always happy to see mom, always happy to see dad," the woman said.

Another friend was "completely astonished," saying Winky Thompson comes from a "good family, nice family in Gobles. It seems completely senseless. I can't wrap my hands around it, really."

She, too, did not want her name used.

On Monday, relatives and friends of both Tyo and the Thompsons filled the courtroom.

Kellie Greene, a cousin of Tyo, was emotional after the arraignment.

"I'm outraged," she said. "What kind of sick individual can do this? How can she possibly live with herself?"

Rick Day, Allegan's mayor and a friend of the Tyo family, called the killing senseless.

"I think (Dena) just hated him. She just didn't want him to be happy," he said.

[The Kitchen Guy]

2 more face charges in Allegan murder

Dec 11, 2007 11:53 AM

Link: WOOD Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7480852&nav=menu44_2)

ALLEGAN - Two more people are facing arraignment in the murder of Troy Tyo, the same day an autopsy is schedule to determine if a body found is, in fact, the missing Allegan man.

Kris Thompson and his wife Dena Thompson - Tyo's ex-wife - were arraigned Monday on murder charges. 24 Hour News 8 learned that Tuesday, Lori Lathrop - Kris Thompson's sister - and her husband Scott Lathrop will officially face charges in this case.

The autopsy results on the body found in a burned truck are expected Tuesday afternoon, as well.

24 Hour News 8 will have more details as soon as possible.

[Roamer]

Wow. What a twisted story. Sounds like LE is really moving quickly in this case, when often they don't.

Thanks for the update. I'll be checking back to see how this turns out.

[The Kitchen Guy]

This is a Made-For-TV-Movie waiting for writers to get off the picket line to sensationalize it.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Lots of people in the denial stage...

Friends shocked at arrest of Troy Tyo's ex-wife

Dena Charyne Thompson
Link: WZZM Television, Grand Rapids (http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=84896)

Created: 12/11/2007 11:42:22 PM
Updated: 12/12/2007 8:24:57 AM

GOBLES - Brenda Page says she knew her as Dena "Winky" Ormun during the 12 years they were together in the Gobles Schools. And she doesn't think Winky could kill anyone.

"She doesn't have an evil bone in her body," says Page. "My boss all day heard me say she didn't do it. You will never convince me that she would do this. It's just not in her nature.

Allegan County Detectives say 38-year-old Winky Thompson, as she is now known, her current husband 28-year-old Kurt Thompson, his sister Lori Ann Lathrop, and her husband Scott Lathrop were all involved in the murder of Winky's ex husband 36-year old Troy Tyo.

http://www.wzzm13.com/assetpool/images/071210144251_Thompson-Dena-Charyne--5-31.jpg
"Winky" Thompson

Custody over the couple's two children is a possible motive.

"There was a custody battle between Troy and his ex-wife," confirms Lt. Scott Matice of the Allegan County Sheriff's Department

Tyo's body was found last weekend in his pickup truck hidden in Gobles not far from the home his ex-wife and her new husband share. He had been missing for nearly a week.

At her job as a cashier in Woody's Convenience store in Gobles, Brenda Page says she hears many stunned comments from customers about the murder.

"And everybody is like, 'I can't believe it'," she says. "It's not Winky. That's not who she is."

Brenda says she tells everyone the same thing

"She is innocent as far as I'm concerned," she says. "She's innocent until proven guilty."

"They haven't been to trial yet. I don't want to hear it until they've been convicted."

[The Kitchen Guy]

Second couple charged in Allegan man's slaying
Posted by Chronicle News Service December 11, 2007 16:04PM
Link: Muskegon Chronicle (http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2007/12/second_couple_charged_in_alleg.html)

ALLEGAN -- A second couple has been charged in the killing of an Allegan man who disappeared Dec. 3.

Scott Laverne Lathrop, 40, of Plainwell, and his wife, Lori Ann Lathrop, were ordered held on $1 million bond at arraignments this afternoon in Allegan County District Court.

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2007/12/small_sllathrop.jpghttp://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2007/12/small_lalathrop.jpg
Scott Lathrop ............Lori Lathrop

He was charged with open murder while she was charged with assault to commit great bodily harm and conspiracy, both 10-year felonies.

Her brother, Kristofer Thompson of Gobles, and his wife, Dena "Winky" Thompson, were arraigned Monday on open murder charges in the death of Dena Thompson's ex-husband, Troy Tyo of Allegan.

Police believe a bitter custody battle over the divorced couple's two children led to a plan to kill Tyo.

Tyo, 36, was attacked as he was leaving his Dumont Creek Estates home for his job at Perrigo. His body was discovered Saturday in a former gravel pit in Van Buren County, a mile from the Thompson residence.

http://www.wzzm13.com/assetpool/images/07124111217_Troy_Paul_Tyo.jpg
Troy Tyo

The family of the Plainwell couple charged this afternoon insisted that they had no involvement. They have three children who are staying with family. The parents were active in their children's lives, and Scott Lathrop coached his kids' wrestling and football teams.

When asked if he understood the charges, Scott Lathrop told Magistrate Kirby Goodwin: "I understand it, but I didn't touch -- I didn't even see the guy."

Sheriff's Lt. Scott Matice said several people came forward with information, which, combined with physical evidence, led to the charges. The alleged plot had been considered for some time.

Police believe a knife was used, and another undisclosed weapon has been discovered, but it was uncertain if anything beyond the knife was used.

Matice said the arrests of two couples in the killing was unexpected.

"I don't want to say bizarre, but this is just an act you either read about in a book or (see) in a movie. It's something that is not typical for Allegan County."

He said Tyo fought his attackers before he died. Autopsy results were pending.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Suspect's Sister: "Lori Didn't Kill Troy"
December 11, 2007 - 10:55PM

Link: WWMT Television, Kalamazoo, MI (http://www.wwmt.com/news/lori_1345475___article.html/clark_sister.html)

ALLEGAN CO. (Newschannel 3) - It's a murder case that's all about family connections, and Newschannel 3 has learned much more about the four main suspects in Troy Tyo's murder - all of them are sitting on branches of the same family tree.

The web of suspects in Tyo's death all have family ties; Tyo's ex-wife Dena Thompson and her new husband Kris Thompson were the first people arrested. And then Kris Thompson's sister and her husband, Lori and Scott Lathrop, were also arrested and are now in the Allegan County Jail.

But one of Lori Lathrops relatives is questioning her involvement in the crime.

Michelle Clark is Lori Lathrop's sister. They share the same father, but have different moms. Clark says she can't believe her sister or her sister's husband would be involved in such a heinous crime.

"She would have never done anything like what they're saying she did," Clark told Newschannel 3.

Scott Lathrop is facing a murder charges, and Lori Lathrop is facing assault and conspiracy charges. Authorities released new information on Tuesday, saying the couple was involved in Tyo's disappearance and murder.

But Clark describes Lori as a a person who was always out to help others, and that in the weeks leading up to Tyo's disappearance, she spoke to Lori, never sensing that anything was wrong.

"I can't believe that's them," said Clark. "I can't believe they're put in this place. I can't believe this is happening. This is a huge nightmare, I wish I could wake up and it would all go away. Neither one would do anything like this."

Clark doesn't believe Lori is directly connected to Tyo's murder, and she's not sure how her half-sister is linked to the crime.

Clark admits she was never really close to Kris Thompson and never believed he was capable of murder, but now that reports have been released that he has made a confession, she's re-examining those beliefs.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Two more family members charged in slaying
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By John Agar
Link: The Grand Rapids Press (http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-39/1197471075211280.xml&coll=6)

ALLEGAN -- The arrest of a second couple in the killing of Troy Tyo, the Allegan Township man who disappeared Dec. 3, brought devastation and disbelief.

Even police were surprised by the case, in which a brother and sister and their spouses face charges.

"I don't want to say 'bizarre,' but this is just an act you either read about in a book or (see) in a movie," Allegan County sheriff's Lt. Scott Matice said Tuesday.

"This is just one tragic event after another," said Erin Crofoot, of Otsego, who said she is related to a witness in the case, whom she declined to identify.

Police believe a custody battle prompted Tyo's ex-wife, Dena "Winky" Thompson, 38, of Gobles, to plot Tyo's killing with her new husband, Kristofer Thompson, 28. Both are charged with open murder. Kristofer Thompson told police he hit Tyo, 36, with a baseball bat and "later cut his throat," court records showed.

On Tuesday, the case took another turn. Kristofer Thompson's sister, Lori Ann Lathrop, 40, of Plainwell, was charged with assault with intent to commit great bodily harm and conspiracy, both 10-year felonies. Her husband, Scott Lathrop, 40, was charged with open murder in Tyo's death.

Scott Lathrop is accused of meeting Kristofer Thompson at the Comfort Inn in Plainwell on the morning of the killing. He drove Thompson to Dumont Creek Estates in Allegan Township, where Thompson attacked the victim, who was dumping Christmas wrap in a trash bin, police said in court records.

Police found "a large amount" of blood and a knife near the trash bin. Police also recovered an undisclosed weapon, but it was uncertain if it was used in the killing.

After the beating, police said, Thompson put Tyo's body into Tyo's pickup, then stabbed Tyo when he began to move. Tyo's throat was cut.

Thompson allegedly left the truck in a former gravel pit, then walked a mile to his home in Van Buren County. His wife was seen on a store video buying gauze, and allegedly bandaged wounds her husband sustained in the attack, court records show.

At his arraignment Tuesday in Allegan County District Court, Scott Lathrop, a father of three and coach of his kids' wrestling and football teams, appeared stunned. When asked if he understood the charges, he told Magistrate Kirby Goodwin: "I understand it, but I didn't touch -- I didn't even see the guy."

Lathrop, who appeared to cry on the video feed from the county jail, bent over after the charges were read.

"I didn't have any part of it," he said.

Police said in court records that Lathrop drove Thompson to Tyo's residence, aware Thompson planned a "grave assault on Troy Tyo."

Lori Lathrop, arms folded, said little at her arraignment. A detective said she asked a friend a month before the killing for help in an assault on Tyo. She said Thompson, her brother, need help in "jump(ing)" Tyo, the witness told police.

Rudy Vist, who once worked with Tyo at Perrigo, also is the uncle of Scott Lathrop. When Tyo went missing, Vist was concerned for his friend. He never imagined his nephew would be accused. The family only knew that Lathrop went in for questioning Monday.

When the magistrate read the murder allegations, Lathrop's family gasped.

"That's not Scott. Scott's the nicest, sweetest person there is," said an aunt, Roberta Vist.

Her husband, Rudy, said Lathrop, a "great dad" and community volunteer, wasn't capable of taking part in the killing.

"He's never been in trouble before. He doesn't know what's going on."

He said his nephew probably knew the victim.

Lathrop's stepmother, Cheryl Lathrop, said the killing and arrests have destroyed many families, with many children left without parents. The Lathrops have three teenagers, who are staying with family.

"They don't know what's going on."

Court records showed that Troy Tyo and his ex-wife divorced in September 2006. They fought in court over custody of their daughters, ages 6 and 10. Dena Thompson remarried eight months ago.

While Tyo's family have said they suspected Dena Thompson in the killing early on, her friends have said they could not imagine her harming anyone.

Crofoot, whose relative's statement helped police obtain charges in one of the cases, said she is a good friend to the Lathrops.

"They're good people."

She believes they only were implicated because of the brother-sister relationship and couldn't imagine they took part. She thinks the Lathrops will be cleared once the case gets to court, but said it has caused untold grief for so many families, particularly the children.

"It's just such a tragedy at this point," she said.

Of the four defendants, only one -- Scott Lathrop -- had any criminal record. He had a 1991 conviction for shoplifting, state police records showed.

Matice, the sheriff's lieutenant, said he doubted further charges would be coming, but the case remains under investigation.

He said the defendants were involved "before the act, and probably during and after the act. ... I believe all four of these people that have been taken into custody are directly involved. They could have different roles in the disappearance of Troy Tyo."

He thinks "there are a lot of people that have knowledge of the before and after," and he urged witnesses to contact police.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Autopsy confirms, body found in truck was Troy Tyo

Created: 12/12/2007 5:59:29 PM
Updated: 12/12/2007 6:52:45 PM

Link: WZZM Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=84960)

Allegan - It was suspected. Now police are sure. It was Troy Tyo's body that was found partly burned in his truck over the weekend.

Tyo was reported missing December 3rd. His truck was found December 8th with a body inside.

Tyo's ex-wife, her new husband, and two relatives are charged in Tyo's death.

Troy and Dena Tyo were married for ten years before they divorced in 2006. The couple had two daughters, who are ten and six.

The couple divorced in September of 2006, after Troy accused his wife Dena of having an affair with their co-worker, Kristopher Thompson. The couple shared custody of their children after the divorce. Dena later married Thompson.

In July 2006, Dena filed a request with the court to get full custody of their daughters. She accused Troy of slapping one of the girls. But, Dena withdrew her request, and the judge dismissed the case one day before a hearing was scheduled last month.

In probable cause hearings earlier this week, investigators told a judge both Dena and Kris Thompson admitted to their roles in killing Troy Tyo. An investigator said, "A subsequent arrest was made on Kris Thompson, who indicated he had hit Troy with the baseball bat and later cut Troy's throat. As a result of that information, we then contacted his wife, who's identified as the ex-wife of Troy, Dena Thompson. And during the course of an interview with Dena, she indicated having knowledge of Troy's murder and assisting in the murder of Troy Tyo, assisting her current husband Kris Thompson."

Two other people are accused of assault and conspiracy related to Troy Tyo's death. Lori Lathrop is Kris Thompson's sister, and Scott Lathrop is her husband.

The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for next week.

Visitation for Troy Tyo will be held Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gordon Funeral Home in Allegan. Tyo's funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Body found in truck positively ID'd as Allegan man

Link: Kalamzoo Gazette Staff Reports December 12, 2007 16:25PM (http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2007/12/body_found_in_truck_positively.html)

ALLEGAN -- The body found Saturday in Troy Tyo's pickup truck has been positively identified as the Allegan man, the Allegan County Sheriff's Office said.

Tyo's truck was found in a former gravel pit near Gobles five days after he was reported missing. Four people, including Tyo's ex-wife, have since been charged in connection with what police say was homicide.

A detective said at a court hearing this week that Dena Thompson, 38, asked her husband, 28-year-old Kristopher Thompson, to kill Tyo. Dena Thompson and Tyo were divorced, and police have said a custody dispute over their children may have been a motive in the slaying.

The Thompsons and alleged accomplices, Scott L. Lathrop and LoriAnn Lathrop, both 40, of Plainwell, have been charged in the case. The Thompsons and Scott Lathrop face charges including open counts of murder, while LoriAnn Lathrop faces conspiracy and assault charges.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Troy Tyo will be laid to rest with special honors due to his years as a volunteer firefighter.

A mourning flag is in front of the Allegan fire house, and a new name on the plaque in the lobby where he worked until he left last year to spend more time with his family.

"Engine 11 is the truck Troy worked on most," said Deputy Fire Chief Shaun Luyk. "We'll be removing the hoses from the top and placing black material around the truck in mourning, and we'll place his casket on the truck to take him to his final resting place in the truck he worked on most."

Visitation on Friday at Gorden Funeral Residence

Funeral mass at 11 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Allegan.

A memorial fund for Troy Tyo's children is set up at National City Bank in Allegan.

Link: WOOD Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7489122&nav=menu44_2)

[The Kitchen Guy]

Who is Winky Thompson?

Posted: Dec 12, 2007 06:40 PM
Link: WOOD Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7489122&nav=menu44_2)

By DEE MORRISON

ALLEGAN - Winky Thompson volunteered at West Ward Elementary School December 3, the same day her ex-husband Troy Tyo was killed.

Winky Thompson - no one knows her by her given first name Dena - returned to her hometown of Gobles after divorcing Tyo in 2006. She married Kris Thompson and fought for full custody of her two daughters, trying to switch them from Allegan to Gobles schools. A judge ruled against her late last month.

Her maiden name was Osmun, and her family owned a shop in downtown Gobles. Her dad now works at Perrigo, where both her ex-husband and her current husband worked. She also worked at Perrigo, but quit after being on medical leave for back surgery in 2005.

Family friends told 24 Hour News 8 she was fun to be around, active at school and in the community, even volunteering at high school football games this season.

"She came from a sound family. There was never no trouble there," said family friend Maria Uramkin.

"Who understands someone who murders somebody?" asked neighbor Diane Calvert. "She was popular in school, but people change. What are you going to do? People change."

No one in this community has the answer to what led to a murder, but they keep coming back to the custody battle over Winky and Troy's two daughters.

"Custody battles are something else," Uramkin said. "I've never been in one myself, but they can get ugly."

A preliminary exam is set for next week in Allegan

[The Kitchen Guy]

Tyo honored by Allegan firefighters

Link: WOOD Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7490227&nav=0Rcd)
Updated: Dec 12, 2007 11:26 PM

ALLEGAN -- A murder victim is being honored by those he served and served with in Allegan.

Troy Tyo's body was found in his pickup truck near Gobles Dec. 8.

He was a volunteer firefighter for nine years and will be laid to rest with special honors. He took a leave from the department last year following his divorce to spend more time with his children. His fellow firefighters will play a major role at his funeral.

"On behalf of the fire department, we are honored and privileged to pay our respects to Troy and his family," said Allegan Deputy Fire Chief Shaun Luyk.

A plaque on the wall of the Allegan Fire Department recognizes Tyo's years of service.

"He was responsible for going to the scene or station and taking command of the scene, guiding firefighters on what they should be doing on the scene," adds Luyk.

Tyo was born and raised in Allegan, worked at Perrigo, and was well-known in his community and well-liked by fellow firefighters.

"He made the department enjoyable, no matter what was going on. He'd make people laugh, lighten up the mood," said Luyk.

A mourning flag hangs in front of the firehouse in Allegan.

Firefighters and police from across West Michigan are expected to attend the funeral in full uniform. Marked vehicles will also take part in the funeral procession.

"Engine 11 is the truck Troy worked on most. We'll be removing the hoses from the top and placing black material around the truck in mourning, and we'll place his casket on the truck to take him to his final resting place in the truck he worked on most."

[The Kitchen Guy]

More Details Released In The Tyo Murder Plot

December 13, 2007 - 12:25AM
Link: WWMT Television Kalamazoo, MI (http://www.wwmt.com/news/tyo_1345505___article.html/kristofer_newschannel.html)

The Allegan Co. Sheriff's Department has confirmed it was, in fact, Tyo's body that was found in his partially burned truck.

A hunter found that truck in a ditch near Gobles over the weekend.

Newschannel 3 has obtained a DVD copy of court hearings as police laid out their evidence about each suspect. Evidence at that hearing would eventually lead to charges including murder, assault and conspiracy.

Those court proceedings included the following:

-Tyo's ex-wife, Dena Thompson, admitting she requested that her current husband, Kristofer Thompson, kill Tyo

-Kristofer taking responsibility for initially assaulting Tyo near the dumpsters located near Tyo's home

-Kristofer's sister, Lori Lathrop, admitting she tried to get someone to help Kristofer kill Tyo, at her brother's request

-Scott Lathrop, Lori's husband, admitting he drove Kristofer to the area where Tyo was murdered on December 3

Tyo and Dena Thompson's two young daughters are now living with family members.

Tyo's funeral is this Saturday at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Allegan.

Newschannel 3 will continue to follow this case, and will update this story as more information becomes available.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Detectives describe case against supects in Troy Tyo murder

Link: WZZM Television, Grand Rapids, MI (http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=84964)
Updated: 12/13/2007 9:15:12 AM

Allegan- Investigators say the suspects in 36 year old Troy Tyo's death may have started planning the murder long before he was killed.

During preliminary testimony detectives say Lori Lathrop, alleged killer Kristopher Thompson's sister, was trying to recruit accomplices as early as a month before the crime.

"Lori was attempting to get assistance for Kris at Kris's request to assist in this attack," says a detective involved in the investigation.

Lori Lathrop is accused with conspiracy and assault.

Investigators say her brother, 28 year old Kristopher Thompson, ambushed and killed Tyo on December 3.

"Mr. Thompson has admitted responsibility of initially assaulting Mr. Tyo," says an investigator. "Mr. Tyo began to move and make some statements and it was necessary for Mr. Thompson to inflict additional injury that actually caused Mr. Tyo's death."

Thompson's brother-in-law, Scott Lathrop, is accused of driving him to the scene.

And detectives say it was all Dena Thompson's idea.

She wanted her ex-husband, Troy Tyo, dead.

"According to her she wanted her current husband Kristopher to kill her former husband Troy," says a detective in the Allegan County Sheriff's Department. "During an interview with Dena she indicated having knowledge of Troy's murder and assisting in the murder."

According to court documents, instead of shared custody Dena Thompson wanted sole custody of the two children she had with Troy Tyo.

She also wanted child support payments.

Troy Tyo was murdered two weeks after a judge denied her request and dismissed her petition.

[BubblyToes]

snipped

And detectives say it was all Dena Thompson's idea.

She wanted her ex-husband, Troy Tyo, dead.

"According to her she wanted her current husband Kristopher to kill her former husband Troy," says a detective in the Allegan County Sheriff's Department. "During an interview with Dena she indicated having knowledge of Troy's murder and assisting in the murder."

According to court documents, instead of shared custody Dena Thompson wanted sole custody of the two children she had with Troy Tyo.

She also wanted child support payments.

Troy Tyo was murdered two weeks after a judge denied her request and dismissed her petition.[/QUOTE]


I am from north of Allegan. When I heard this story in the news, my ears perked up - I used to be a supplier for Perrigo for 10 years. Last name sounded familiar, but couldn't place the face. Days later, I read in the paper about the arrest and they referenced the name "Winky" as one of the suspects. I was floored, I "worked" with her in her area at Perrigo and can say I would never have guessed she would be capable of this. I remember her being pregnant for her first child and meeting Troy once or twice. This is so sad for all involved. Now these children are without both of their parents.