Woman sought after implicating man in murder, then recanting
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on October 17, 2017 6:27 PM
Authorities say a woman lied to prosecutors and made up a story against Carlos Demorris Darden to get him arrested, charged and indicted for murder.
Tonya Annette Grier, age and address unavailable, is now wanted for felony obstruction of justice.
Assistant District Attorney Davis Weddle said Grier told prosecutors she made up the story about Darden's involvement in the August 2015 murder of 28-year-old Perez Donovan McDuffie.
Weddle said when Grier told prosecutors that her story against Darden was made up, they dismissed Darden's charges ---- first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and habitual felon ---- in a September 11 court session earlier this year.
But after Darden's charges were dismissed, prosecutors came for Grier.
"When I dismissed his charges, I charged her with felony obstruction of justice," Weddle said. "I indicted her for that."
Grier was indicted on the charge during a Wayne County grand jury session earlier this month.
McDuffie was found face down in a grassy area near Darden's Alpha Court residence. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the left side of his torso, left hand and right hand.
Weddle said as of Tuesday afternoon, Grier had not yet been found by authorities and is still wanted for allegedly lying about Darden's involvement.
"All we had was her," Weddle said. "When she told me that she had lied about it -- I mean, I can't put somebody on the stand if it's lies. I just can't do it ethically."