In the quiet community of Gladwin, Michigan, the life of 59-year-old Dale B. McLaughlin Sr., a male, came to a violent end on October 21, 2023. He was found with a single gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen area in his home in Grout Township. The man who authorities believe fired the fatal shot was Terry Lee Verhelle, the 53-year-old longtime boyfriend of McLaughlin's sister, Tammy.
An unsettling layer to the tragedy was that McLaughlin, his sister, and Verhelle all resided together
in the very house where McLaughlin himself had taken a man's life in 2006. For that crime, he had served 13 years in prison for second-degree murder and was released in 2021. His parole was nearing its end at the time of his death.
On that fateful October night, a confrontation erupted between McLaughlin and Verhelle. Following the shooting, it was Verhelle who called 911 and was waiting for deputies when they arrived at the residence. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with homicide–manslaughter, weapons-felony firearm, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
The case against Terry Lee Verhelle moved through the Gladwin County court system, culminating in a plea deal. Verhelle pleaded no contest to charges of possession of weapons, firearms under the influence, and attempted homicide, manslaughter – death with intent but without malice. In exchange for his plea, charges of felony firearm and a more severe homicide charge were dismissed. During the sentencing, it was revealed that Verhelle claimed McLaughlin had come at him with a knife. The court also noted that Verhelle waited 16 minutes before calling for help after the shooting. Ultimately, a judge sentenced him to a prison term of 17 months to five years for his role in the death of Dale B. McLaughlin Sr.
