In the late summer of 2014, a quiet Bloomfield Township, Michigan, condominium complex became the scene of a grim discovery that would unravel a story of trust betrayed and brutal violence. William Whitelaw, a 77-year-old male resident of the Knollwood Pointe Condos, was found dead in his home on September 4th. The discovery was made by his son, who was met with a disturbing scene that hinted at a violent end to a life.
The cause of death was later determined by the Oakland County Medical Examiner to be blunt force trauma to the head.
Investigators arriving at the condominium on Maple Hills Drive found no signs of a forced entry, suggesting that Whitelaw had likely known his attacker. The crime scene held another sinister element: lit candles had been strategically placed near a gas line that had been tampered with, a clear but failed attempt to stage a fire and explosion to conceal the murder. This calculated effort to destroy evidence pointed to a perpetrator who had spent time in the residence and was attempting to cover their tracks. The investigation quickly focused on individuals who had legitimate access to Whitelaw's home, a path that would soon lead them to a familiar face in the community.
Suspicion fell upon Bart Mitchell Spencer, a 45-year-old handyman who had previously performed work for Whitelaw and other residents of the condominium complex. The trust that had been placed in Spencer proved to be tragically misplaced. Following the murder, investigators tracked some of Whitelaw's stolen belongings, including jewelry that Spencer had pawned. A search of Spencer's home in Wayne, Michigan, uncovered more of the victim's property, including a handgun, two Rolex watches, and a baseball autographed by the 1968 Detroit Tigers. These findings provided a direct link between Spencer and the crime scene. Two other individuals were briefly held as persons of interest, but they were later released as the case against Spencer solidified.
In the days following the murder, Bart Mitchell Spencer was arrested and subsequently charged with a litany of offenses that reflected the heinous nature of his crime. The charges included open murder, arson for the attempt to set the condominium ablaze, larceny of firearms, larceny in a building, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Spencer, who had an extensive criminal history dating back to the 1980s with convictions for armed robbery and weapons charges, pleaded not guilty. However, the evidence against him was substantial.
In May of 2015, a jury found Bart Spencer guilty on all counts after a trial that detailed the brutal killing and the calculated attempt to hide the crime. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that he would not have the opportunity to harm anyone else in the community. During his sentencing, Spencer expressed remorse, stating, 'That whole day I wish I could take back. I feel horrible about everything.' His words, however, offered little solace to the family and friends of William Whitelaw, who was remembered as a well-liked president of the condominium association, a man who had tragically opened his home to the person who would ultimately take his life.
