Lawrence DeLisle, a Michigan man convicted of murder in the drowning deaths of his four children in 1989, is seeking clemency after serving 35 years in prison. DeLisle claimed that a leg cramp caused him to hit the gas pedal inadvertently, leading to the tragic accident. He was initially viewed as a victim in the public eye, but police determined that he had never applied pressure to his brakes before his car plunged into the Detroit River. DeLisle and his wife were able to escape, but all four children drowned in the incident.
DeLisle was convicted in 1990 and sentenced to five life sentences without parole for first-degree murder and attempted murder in the deaths of his 8-year-old son Bryan, 4-year-old daughter Melissa, 2-year-old daughter Kathryn, and 8-month-old daughter Emily. His then-wife Suzanne DeLisle divorced him and remarried soon after the trial. The judge who presided over DeLisle’s original case, Judge Robert Colombo Jr., stated that the jury made the right decision in convicting him, noting that DeLisle had a history of mental health issues and attempting to harm himself.
DeLisle’s attorneys have argued that his confession was coerced and that the media attention surrounding the case prevented him from receiving a fair trial. The Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan’s law school and Northwestern University’s law school are supporting DeLisle, stating that the crash was an accident and that he poses no danger to society if released. Despite this, Judge Colombo firmly believes that DeLisle does not deserve clemency, referring to him as a “mass murderer.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is the only person with the power to shorten DeLisle’s prison term, and his case was recently heard by Michigan’s Parole Board. DeLisle’s attorneys were unavailable for comment, but they continue to advocate for his release. The Parole Board member who led the recent hearing expressed skepticism about DeLisle’s claim that he was unable to apply brakes after his vehicle started moving forward, stating that it was hard to believe he did not try to stop the car before it plunged into the river.
DeLisle’s case has been controversial and heartbreaking, with supporters and detractors divided on whether he should be granted clemency. Despite his continued pursuit of release, Judge Colombo and other critics maintain that he should remain behind bars. The tragic events of that fateful day in 1989 have left a lasting impact on the community and the lives of all involved, making it a challenging and emotional case for all parties involved. It remains to be seen whether Governor Whitmer will ultimately decide to grant DeLisle clemency and release him from prison after more than three decades.
