KALAMAZOO, MI – A warrant has been issued for a man accused of fatally stabbing two people.
The warrant for the man’s arrest, which was issued last week, came four months after the killings.
The warrant for a 27-year-old Kalamazoo man was issued May 12 for two felony counts of manslaughter, according to Kalamazoo County District Court records. The suspect has not been arrested since the warrant was issued.
He is accused of fatally stabbing Maurice Pearson, 49, and his 21-year-old son, Xavier Pearson, on Jan. 10 at Davis Creek Apartments, near Sprinkle Road and Meredith Street.
“The office of the Prosecuting Attorney does not publicly comment on possible charges until after an arrest has been made and arraignment is scheduled to take place,” Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said.
It’s been a long process to get to the warrant and charges, Maurice Pearson’s sister Sheran Pearson said. The family has had to be careful during the four months because she said they weren’t sure if they were safe.
The family knew part of the delay for charges was waiting on different reports, and they have had conversations with the prosecutor’s office, but they were not told that a warrant was issued for the man, Sheran Pearson said.
“This is what I’m talking about the prosecuting office,” Sheran Pearson said. “They do stuff not thinking about our safety. If this man knows that y’all are looking for him, we don’t know what he’ll do in desperation.
“It has been literally hell trying to maneuver our lives around and wanting to go places and don’t want to be out in the open, you know, in fear he may be there, other family members may be there.”
The prosecutor’s office has been in contact with the victims’ families since their deaths, including this week, Getting said.
“In order to reduce the likelihood of a suspect fleeing, to lessen the chances of retaliation against witnesses, and to promote the safety of arresting officers and the suspect, we do not publicly announce that charges have been issued except in rare circumstances,” Getting said. “In all death cases, the prosecutor’s office always contacts victim families as soon as we are able and I personally meet with each of them.”
The man had not yet been booked in the Kalamazoo County Jail as of 10:35 a.m., May 19, Undersheriff Jim VanDyken said.
A woman and two young children were in the apartment when the stabbings happened, police said previously.
Police also said the stabbing was the result of a domestic dispute.
“We understand the process of the judicial system,” Sheran Pearson said. “The justice system is slow but God is for sure. We just trust in God more than we trust in man.”
Portage police do not comment on open investigations or police operations that may interfere with or compromise investigations, Chief Nick Armold told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.
Related: Suspect in fatal stabbings of Portage father and son released from jail
The suspect was initially arrested at the scene of the stabbing and taken to a local hospital to treat injuries before he was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail. He was released from jail Jan. 12, two days after the stabbing, while the prosecutor’s office waited for additional information before deciding about charges, Armold said previously.
“We are grateful that there’s a warrant out for his arrest,” Sheran Pearson said. “I just hope that he has been arrested by now. Because for y’all not to know where he is … it’s baffling to me.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 2:17 p.m. with additional comment from Prosecutor Jeff Getting.
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