In the early hours of a November morning in 2019, the quiet community of Belleville, Michigan, was disturbed by a tragic event that would end the life of 62-year-old Belinda Oneal. A female resident of the Belle Pointe Estates in Van Buren Township, her life was cut short in what authorities would later describe as a fatal domestic dispute.
The incident unfolded on November 5, 2019, when the Van Buren Township Police received a distressing call around 1:30 a.m. The call came from a man who relayed a chilling confession from his father, Terrance Oneal, who admitted to killing his wife, Belinda. Officers were immediately dispatched to the couple's home in the 7000 block of Fay Drive. Upon their arrival, they discovered Belinda Oneal's body on the second floor of the residence. It was apparent that she had sustained a gunshot wound.
The primary suspect in the death of Belinda Oneal was her 63-year-old husband, Terrance. According to witness statements, the couple had been engaged in a heated argument that tragically escalated to the point of gunfire. Following the shooting, Terrance Oneal fled the scene in his vehicle, prompting a search by law enforcement.
With the assistance of the Michigan State Police and the Berrien County Sheriff's Office, Terrance Oneal was located and apprehended just a few hours later, around 3 a.m. He was found traveling on Interstate 94 in Berrien County and was taken into custody without incident before being transported back to Van Buren Township to face charges.
On November 9, 2019, Terrance Oneal was arraigned in the 34th District Court. He was formally charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm in connection with the death of his wife. Despite a plea from his court-appointed attorney for a reasonable bond, citing a lack of prior offenses, the judge denied the request. Terrance Oneal was subsequently remanded to the Wayne County Jail to await further legal proceedings. His probable cause conference was scheduled for November 20, 2019, with a preliminary examination set for November 27, 2019. The charges he faced carried the potential for a life sentence for the murder charge, with an additional two years for the firearm offense.
