In the summer of 2013, the promising life of Paul DeWolf, a 25-year-old male, was tragically cut short. A dedicated student at the University of Michigan Medical School and a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, DeWolf was discovered deceased in his Ann Arbor apartment on July 24, 2013. A colleague from the Veteran's Affairs Hospital, where DeWolf was on assignment, went to check on him after he failed to show up for his duties and made the grim discovery.
An autopsy would later reveal that DeWolf had died from a single gunshot wound to the neck. The initial investigation found his basement room at the Phi Rho Sigma medical fraternity to be orderly, with no obvious signs of theft.
The seemingly motiveless crime prompted an intensive investigation by the Ann Arbor Police Department, with assistance from the University of Michigan Police and the U.S. Air Force. For months, the case remained a mystery, leaving the community on edge. Investigators pursued various leads and questioned multiple individuals, but no immediate suspects were identified. The breakthrough in the case came in November 2013, when three suspects were arrested in connection with DeWolf's murder. The individuals were identified as Shaquille A. K. Jones, 21, Dajeon Franklin, 22, and Joei Jordan, 20, all from South Carolina. The investigation revealed that the three men had no prior connection to DeWolf or the university.
The arrests brought some semblance of relief to a community that had been searching for answers. Court proceedings revealed that the three men had entered the fraternity house with the intention of committing a robbery. During the home invasion, they encountered DeWolf in his room. A struggle ensued over a firearm, which resulted in DeWolf being fatally shot. Following their arrests, the three men faced charges including open murder, first-degree home invasion, and conspiracy to commit home invasion.
The legal process unfolded over the following months, bringing a painful chapter to a close for DeWolf's family and friends. Dajeon Franklin was the first to face a jury and was found guilty of murder. Shaquille Jones later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison. The final suspect, Joei Jordan, also went to trial for his involvement in the crime. The convictions ensured that the individuals responsible for the senseless death of a bright and promising young man would be held accountable for their actions.
