A courtroom in Michigan turned tense as a woman accused of a brutal double murder interrupted a witness during a hearing. The case involves serious charges, including murder, kidnapping, and attempted murder, and has left the local community shocked.
What Happened?
Shuvonne Vinson, 43, has been charged with 10 serious crimes. These include two counts of open murder, one count of attempted murder, kidnapping, and home invasion. The incident happened on January 1, 2025, in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
The victims were part of a foster family taking care of Vinson’s 4-year-old daughter. The alleged victims are 48-year-old Jennifer Lyn Bernhard, 74-year-old Stevie Ray Smith, and 52-year-old Jeffrey Alan Bernhard — the only one who survived the attack.
The Bernhards also had a 9-year-old child of their own and were temporarily caring for Vinson’s daughter through the foster care system.
Courtroom Testimony and Heated Moments
At a court hearing on Tuesday, survivor Jeffrey Bernhard testified about the violent night. He said Vinson came to their home with two men — Gregory Callhan and Keith Finley. During the attack, she accused Jennifer Bernhard of not allowing her daughter to “believe in God.” Vinson also called the foster family “evil and demonic.”
Jeffrey Bernhard firmly denied these accusations. He told the court that the family actually brought both children to church twice a week. His father-in-law was a pastor and his wife had been an ordained minister. They also read Bible stories to the children and played Christian songs at bedtime.
He said the girl was treated well and even saw them as her own parents, calling them “Mommy and Daddy.” According to Bernhard, this made Vinson angry during the attack.
Claims of Planning and Motive
Jeffrey also told the court that Vinson said she had “planned everything” and even called herself a “gangster.” She allegedly told them she didn’t care if she went to jail for life. At one point, she reportedly asked, “Where do you keep the money?”
He also said that as the violence was happening, Vinson’s daughter tried to hug him and his wife before being taken away. This emotional moment reportedly upset Vinson even more.
Shocking Outburst in Court
During the court session, Vinson suddenly interrupted the testimony by saying, “You’re lying.” This was after Bernhard denied any abuse had taken place. Judge Simpson had already warned her earlier to stay quiet. After the second interruption, the judge ordered her to be removed from the courtroom.
In a past court appearance, Vinson had shouted that the Bernhards had abused her daughter and that they “deserved to die.” However, police say there was no mention of abuse during the attack, and Jeffrey Bernhard said he had never heard of such allegations before that moment.
What’s Next?
Vinson is currently in jail without bond. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for October 1, where more evidence and witness testimony will likely be heard. Investigators are continuing to examine the full details of what led to the deadly attack.
This tragic and emotional case has raised many questions about foster care, mental health, and religious beliefs in parenting. While the legal process continues, the survivors and those close to the victims are left to deal with the trauma. The court will now focus on discovering the full truth and ensuring justice is served.
