Gregory Green: A History of Murder Within His Family
Gregory Vincente Green is a Michigan murderer whose crimes were separated by approximately twenty-five years. He first killed his pregnant wife in Detroit in 1991, served a lengthy prison sentence, and was eventually paroled. In 2016, after building another family, Green killed four children in the family home in Dearborn Heights and violently attacked his second wife, Faith Green. Because the murders occurred during separate periods many years apart, Green is sometimes described as a serial killer, although his crimes are also frequently discussed as examples of domestic homicide and family annihilation. His five confirmed murder victims were all members of his immediate family.
The 1991 Murder of Tonya Green
Green's first known murder occurred on July 14, 1991, in Detroit, Michigan. His wife, Tonya Clayton Green, was pregnant at the time. Reports concerning the case place her pregnancy at approximately six to seven months. During a confrontation inside their home, Green attacked Tonya with a knife, stabbing her repeatedly. She suffered wounds to several areas of her upper body and was later pronounced dead. Her unborn child also died as a result of the attack.
After killing Tonya, Green contacted police himself. According to information later provided by the Michigan Department of Corrections, he admitted what he had done and waited for officers to arrive. Green ultimately pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in 1992 and received a sentence of 15 to 25 years in prison. He remained incarcerated for approximately sixteen years. His requests for parole were denied four times before he was finally released in 2008. Corrections officials later said earlier parole decisions had raised concerns about his lack of remorse, insight, and empathy.
Release From Prison and Marriage to Faith Green
After his release, Green eventually married Faith Green. The couple had two daughters together, Koi Green and Kaleigh Green. Faith also had two older children, Chadney Allen and Kara Allen, who became Green's stepchildren. By 2016, however, the marriage was experiencing serious problems. Faith had filed for divorce, and earlier court proceedings included an unsuccessful request for a personal protection order. The family continued to live in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
The history of Green's first murder made the events of September 2016 especially disturbing. Twenty-five years after killing Tonya, Green again committed lethal violence against members of his household. This time, four children were killed and Faith was seriously injured.
The Dearborn Heights Murders
During the early hours of September 21, 2016, Green carried out a series of attacks at the family's home in the 4400 block of Hipp Street in Dearborn Heights. The victims were his biological daughters, five-year-old Koi Green and four-year-old Kaleigh Green, and his stepchildren, nineteen-year-old Chadney Allen and seventeen-year-old Kara Allen. Wayne County prosecutors later formally identified all four as victims of the September 21 homicides.
Green killed his two young daughters through carbon monoxide poisoning. Police said the children had been placed inside a vehicle and exposed to exhaust fumes directed into the passenger compartment. Investigators said the girls were then removed from the vehicle and placed in their bedroom. Emergency personnel attempted to revive them, and the children were transported to Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, where they were pronounced dead. Their deaths were ruled homicides.
Inside the house, Green attacked the two older children separately. Chadney Allen and Kara Allen were restrained and fatally shot in the basement. Their mother, Faith Green, was also restrained. Green assaulted Faith, cutting her face and shooting her in the foot. She survived her injuries. At Green's later guilty plea and sentencing, the charges involving Faith included torture and assault with intent to do great bodily harm.
At approximately 1:15 a.m. on September 21, Green contacted authorities. When officers arrived at the Hipp Street residence, they found him outside the home and took him into custody. Police entering the house discovered the teenagers and the injured Faith in the basement. The younger girls were also located as officers and medical personnel attempted to determine whether they could be saved.
Confirmed Victims
- Tonya Clayton Green — Died July 14, 1991, in Detroit, Michigan. She was Gregory Green's wife and was approximately six to seven months pregnant. Green killed her in a knife attack inside their home.
- Chadney Allen — Died September 21, 2016, in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. He was 19 years old and was Faith Green's son and Gregory Green's stepson. He was restrained and fatally shot in the family's home on Hipp Street.
- Kara Allen — Died September 21, 2016, in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She was 17 years old and was Faith Green's daughter and Gregory Green's stepdaughter. She was restrained and fatally shot in the basement of the family residence.
- Koi Green — Died September 21, 2016, in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She was 5 years old and was the biological daughter of Gregory and Faith Green. She died after being deliberately exposed to carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust.
- Kaleigh Green — Died September 21, 2016, in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She was 4 years old and was the biological daughter of Gregory and Faith Green. She died from the same deliberate carbon monoxide exposure as her sister. Some early news reports spelled her first name "Kaliegh," but Wayne County prosecutors later used the spelling "Kaleigh."
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Green was initially prosecuted for the four 2016 killings and the attack on Faith. On February 15, 2017, he appeared in court and pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder, one for each child. He also pleaded guilty to torture, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and felony firearm. The murder counts specifically named Kaleigh Green, Koi Green, Kara Allen, and Chadney Allen.
On March 1, 2017, Green was sentenced in Wayne County Circuit Court. He received 45 to 100 years for the principal offenses, together with a consecutive two-year sentence for the felony-firearm conviction. Prosecutors calculated that he would have to serve the firearm sentence first and then at least 45 additional years, meaning he would be approximately 97 years old before becoming eligible to seek parole.
A Repeated Pattern of Domestic Murder
The most striking feature of the Gregory Green case is the repetition of lethal domestic violence after an exceptionally long interval. In 1991, Green killed his pregnant wife and then contacted police. He served sixteen years in prison and was eventually judged suitable for parole. In 2016, he again attacked his own household and again contacted authorities after the violence. This time, four children were dead and his wife had narrowly survived.
In total, Green was responsible for the murders of five named victims: Tonya Green in 1991 and Chadney Allen, Kara Allen, Koi Green, and Kaleigh Green in 2016. Tonya's unborn child also died in the 1991 attack. The later murders demonstrated that Green's release from prison did not mark the end of his capacity for severe domestic violence. His convictions and lengthy sentence following the 2016 murders effectively ensured that he would spend the remainder of his life in prison.
