ADRIAN, Mich. — The first day of trial is underway in the case of People v. Ricardo Sepulveda, who stands accused of a grisly 1997 murder in Blissfield Township. Sepulveda faces six felony charges, including first-degree premeditated homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, assault with intent to maim, and tampering with evidence.
Opening statements began after a lengthy jury selection process, during which the court addressed multiple objections regarding admissibility of photographs and sketches. One juror was excused due to a prior felony conviction.
Assistant Attorney General Bonita Hoffman presented the state’s case, laying out a narrative that includes testimony from Sepulveda’s brother, Michael Sepulveda, who previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the same case. According to the prosecution, the brothers lured an unidentified man, believed to be a drug courier, from a Toledo bar to a cornfield in Michigan, where he was killed and mutilated. The motive, Hoffman argued, was to avoid repaying a cartel debt.
The defense, led by attorney William Amadeo, countered that the case is built entirely on the word of a “career criminal,” calling the story “fiction” and highlighting that prosecutors lack basic identifying information about the victim — no name, no age, no race.
Judge Michael R. Olsaver sustained an objection by the prosecution during defense opening arguments, cautioning that the jury must not interpret opening statements as evidence.
The court also ruled on preliminary evidentiary issues, admitting certain graphic photos while excluding a police sketch. Testimony on day one included several law enforcement officers. The trial is expected to continue through the week, with day two scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23.
WLEN will continue to follow this developing case as testimony unfolds.