In the autumn of 2014, concern grew for a 76-year-old man named Kenneth J. Labita, a long-time resident of Plymouth Township, Michigan. For about four decades, he had lived a quiet life on Gilbert Avenue. Neighbors became worried when they noticed his dog had been left outside for a couple of days and his garage door was uncharacteristically left open. These seemingly small details were out of the ordinary for the widower, who had lost his wife, Myrtle, in 2012 and was a retired employee of Dunn Steel. Their concerns prompted a call to the police to check on his welfare.
When officers entered his home on October 27, 2014, they made a grim discovery. Kenneth Labita was found deceased in his living room, the victim of a gunshot wound to the back of his head. The investigation into his death was swiftly classified as a homicide, sending ripples of unease through the community that had known him for so long. Detectives learned that Labita, in preparation for a move out of state, had been in the process of selling some of his belongings, including firearms.
The investigation soon focused on a young couple who had been acquainted with Labita. Andrew J. Nutt, 22, and his 19-year-old girlfriend, Miriah Pisarski, were identified as suspects. It was determined that they had gone to Labita's home on October 24th under the pretense of purchasing firearms and other items. Prosecutors alleged that after Nutt shot and killed Labita, the couple stole guns and cash from the residence. The thorough police work, which included analyzing phone records and acting on tips, led to their arrests. A search of Nutt's home uncovered nearly $4,000 in cash stolen from Labita, although the missing firearms were not recovered.
Faced with charges that included first-degree murder and felony murder, which carried a mandatory life sentence, Andrew J. Nutt accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder and for using a gun during the commission of a felony. In March 2015, he was sentenced to a term of 27 to 60 years in prison. Miriah Pisarski, who agreed to testify against Nutt, pleaded guilty to charges of being an accessory after the fact and larceny of firearms. She received a sentence of two to five years in prison for her role in the crime that ended the life of the long-time community member.
