The Most TWISTED Case You've Ever Heard | Documentary

Summary

On November 2, 2013, Renisha McBride, after crashing her car and suffering a head injury, sought help at Theodore Wafer's house, only to be shot in the head when she knocked on his door. Theodore claimed it was an accident, but inconsistencies in his story and evidence pointed to a more deliberate action. Despite his defense of self-defense under Michigan's castle doctrine, Theodore was convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter. Although he appealed, his sentence of 15 to 30 years was upheld. The case sheds light on tragic consequences stemming from a series of missteps and misconceptions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Renisha McBride, a 19-year-old woman, crashed her car on a rainy night in 2013 and wandered to a nearby house seeking help while suffering from a concussion and hand injury.
• 😀 The homeowner, Theodore Wafer, opened his door to find Renisha banging and shot her with a shotgun, claiming he acted out of fear of an intruder.
• 😀 Wafer called 9-1-1 after the shooting and stated that he accidentally discharged the shotgun, but his account of events was inconsistent and suspicious.
• 😀 Police investigation revealed discrepancies in Wafer’s story, especially about the angle and position of the gun when fired, casting doubt on whether the shooting was accidental.
• 😀 Renisha had been involved in a car accident earlier that night and may have wandered off disoriented and confused due to her head injury, leading to her encounter with Wafer.
• 😀 Wafer's defense initially claimed the shooting was accidental but later shifted to self-defense, citing Michigan's 'castle doctrine' that allows deadly force against intruders.
• 😀 Despite the 'castle doctrine,' the court ruled that Wafer's fear for his life was unjustified, and Renisha’s actions did not warrant lethal force.
• 😀 Wafer was convicted of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and felony firearm possession, and was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison.
• 😀 In 2015, Wafer appealed his conviction, and the Michigan Supreme Court vacated his manslaughter conviction due to contradictions with the second-degree murder charge.
• 😀 Ultimately, Wafer’s resentencing in 2022 reaffirmed his 15-30 year sentence for second-degree murder, even without the manslaughter conviction, keeping him in prison for the same duration.

Q & A

What was the cause of Renisha McBride's death?

Renisha McBride was shot in the head by Theodore Wafer after knocking on his door during a stormy night in 2013. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

What injuries did Renisha McBride sustain prior to knocking on Theodore Wafer's door?

Renisha had a concussion and a severe hand injury after crashing her car, which she suffered before seeking help at Theodore Wafer's house.

What did Theodore Wafer claim happened when he shot Renisha?

Theodore Wafer claimed that he opened the door because he heard persistent banging and believed someone was attempting to break into his house. He said the shotgun discharged accidentally.

Why did the police find inconsistencies in Theodore Wafer's story?

The inconsistencies arose because Wafer claimed he was holding the shotgun at waist height, but the angle required to shoot Renisha in the head would have necessitated holding the gun at chest height. Additionally, he downplayed his responsibility by claiming the gun went off unintentionally.

What did the police uncover about Renisha McBride's actions before reaching Theodore Wafer's house?

Police found that Renisha had been involved in a car accident earlier that night, where she was driving under the influence. She had wandered off after the crash and was disoriented, possibly due to a head injury.

What is Michigan's Castle Doctrine, and how does it relate to this case?

Michigan's Castle Doctrine allows the use of deadly force to protect oneself from someone unlawfully entering their home. In this case, Theodore Wafer initially claimed self-defense, but the court found that his actions didn't justify using deadly force under the doctrine.

What was Theodore Wafer's defense during his trial?

Initially, Theodore Wafer claimed that the shooting was an accident. Later, his defense shifted to self-defense, arguing he feared for his life due to Renisha allegedly attempting to break into his home.

What was the final verdict in Theodore Wafer's case?

Theodore Wafer was found guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and felony firearm charges. He was sentenced to 15 to 30 years for second-degree murder, 7 to 15 years for manslaughter, and 2 years for the firearm charge.

How did Theodore Wafer's conviction change after an appeal?

In 2015, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated Wafer's manslaughter conviction, stating that having both a second-degree murder and manslaughter conviction was contradictory. However, the court upheld the second-degree murder conviction, and Wafer's sentence remained largely the same.

What was the impact of the Michigan Supreme Court's decision in 2022?

In 2022, Theodore Wafer's manslaughter conviction was vacated, but the judge maintained the 15 to 30-year sentence for his second-degree murder conviction. Despite the change in convictions, his sentence was not reduced, and he remains imprisoned.