In the quiet evening of March 27, 2017, the life of Mark Samuel, a 38-year-old male tattoo shop owner from Warren, Michigan, was tragically cut short. Earlier that night, a sense of unease had settled over Samuel after he received a threatening phone call. The darkness outside his home on Stewart Avenue would soon bear witness to a fatal encounter that stemmed from a calculated and deceptive plan.
The events leading to his death began with a woman named Brittny Fulwylie, who had
developed a relationship with Samuel under false pretenses. Samuel, looking for a companion to accompany him to his brother's upcoming wedding, was unaware that Fulwylie was luring him into a sinister plot she had orchestrated with her partner, Donald Robinson. The couple, both 24 years old and from Detroit, had planned to rob Samuel inside his house.
Their plan took an unexpected turn when Samuel stepped out of his home, surprising the pair. In the confrontation that followed, Robinson shot Samuel four times, ending his life around 10:00 PM. The brazen act of violence left a community in shock and a family devastated, particularly his two young daughters.
The investigation into the murder of the well-regarded man, known for his generosity and sense of humor, led police to Fulwylie and Robinson. After a six-day trial in front of Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Diane Druzinski, a jury found both Brittny Fulwylie and Donald Robinson guilty of first-degree felony murder and premeditated murder, among other charges. Despite the weight of the evidence and the testimony against them, the couple reportedly showed little emotion as the verdict was read. Both were subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a measure of justice to the family of Mark Samuel.
