Grandmother screamed she murdered grandson, officer testifies
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By Ronnie Dahl, Fox 2 News -
74-year-old Sandra Layne in court on July 2, 2012. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJBK) -
Sandra Layne is a former schoolteacher, mother of five, grandmother of nine and at 74 years of age, an accused killer. We are learning more about what happened that day she allegedly pulled the trigger ending her grandson's life.
"I had told her to keep her hands up. As she was walking out of the house with her hands up, she had advised me and screamed to me that 'I murdered my grandson,'" said West Bloomfield Officer Derrick Kassab.
He testified in 48th District Court that Layne admitted to police she murdered her teenage grandson, Jonathan Hoffman. It was May 18, 5:27 in the evening, officers were called to Layne's upscale condo on Brookview Lane when a neighbor heard gunshots.
Officers arrived to the sound of more gunfire from inside the home. At the same time, Hoffman was on the phone with 911.
(Watch Ronnie Dahl's video report to hear a portion of that call. We must warn you -- it is very disturbing.)
During Layne's preliminary hearing, officers described a bloody scene inside -- bloody footprints in the master bedroom, blood in the kitchen, the laundry room and the upstairs loft where Hoffman was found.
It was determined ten shots were fired from Layne's gun, a Glock she recently purchased. Half of the bullets hit Hoffman at close range. The 17-year-old was shot three times in the chest, once in the arm and once in the stomach.
Layne's attorney says Hoffman's drug use set off the argument that led to the deadly shooting.
Dr. Reuben Ortiz Reyes testified Hoffman tested positive for K2 in his urine, but not his bloodstream, so he wasn't under the influence of drugs at the time.
"He tested positive for spice. It was a violation with his probation. He was concerned about going to jail and he wanted to do certain things, and that's when the argument erupted," said Jerome Sabbota, Layne's attorney. "She was fearful. She killed a person that she loved, that she tried to save. There are no winners. No matter what we do to her, it doesn't really matter. Watch her. She's in her own hell."
Layne's attorney described Hoffman as a troubled teen, a punk, that got in and out of trouble.
Hoffman's parents live in Arizona and were not in court on Monday. Meanwhile, the case has been bound over to circuit court and Layne remains behind bars.
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74-year-old Sandra Layne in court on July 2, 2012. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
