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Marwin McHenry

Other Wayne County, Michigan Exonerations
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On July 10, 2012, a group of at least five women from the Bohanen family drove to the home of the Woodward family in Detroit, Michigan, to confront the Woodwards as part of an ongoing feud.

Tanisha Harris, Alexis Woodward, and their mother, Tanisha Woodard, were standing outside their home. As the Bohanens drove by, the Woodwards threw cans at the car.

After parking their car, the Bohanens, including 20-year-old Onjdua, 18-year-old Debbie, and 24-year-old Alyssa, approached the Woodward home. As the two groups of women prepared to fight, a man appeared from behind a parked car and fired several shots. One shot wounded Onjdua Bohanen in the leg.

At first, while she was still in the ambulance, Onjdua Bohanen said she believed the gunman was James Bosley. However, a few hours later, Onjdua, as well as Debbie and Alyssa Bohanen, identified 20-year-old Marwin McHenry as the gunman. McHenry was at the Woodward house the day of the shooting because he was visiting Tanisha Harris the mother of his child. McHenry contended he was still in the house when the shots were fired.

McHenry went to trial in Wayne County Circuit Court in October 2013. Onjdua, Debbie, and Alyssa Bohanen each testified and identified McHenry as the gunman. Tanisha Harris, McHenry’s girlfriend, testified that the gunman was James Bosley—her brother.

On October 10, 2013, the jury convicted McHenry of three counts of felony assault with intent to commit murder, three counts of felony assault, and one count of illegal use of a firearm. He was sentenced to 16 to 27 years in prison.

In the fall of 2014, while the conviction was still being appealed, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office began reinvestigating the case. Diamond Williams, also a sister of James Bosley, told the prosecution that Bosley had admitted to her that he was the gunman.

In addition, Quentin Bohanen, cousin of Onjdua Bohanen (who was wounded) and boyfriend of Alexis Woodward, told the prosecution that Bosley had confessed to him as well.

In February 2015, Alexis Woodward, Tanisha Harris, and Tanisha Woodward provided statements that Bosley was the gunman. At an evidentiary hearing on a motion for a new trial in July 2015, Tanisha Woodward and Alexis Woodward testified that Bosley was the gunman. The statement of Tanisha Harris, who was not available for the hearing, was also presented. However, the motion for new trial was denied.

In 2016, as the prosecution continued its investigation, the Michigan Law School Innocence Clinic began investigating the case as well. In October 2016, Bosley gave a statement to the prosecution admitting that he was the gunman. The prosecution also administered a polygraph examination to McHenry, whose denials of any involvement were deemed truthful.

In April 2017, the prosecution and the Michigan Innocence Clinic filed a joint motion to vacate McHenry’s convictions and dismiss the charges. On May 1, 2017, the motion was granted and McHenry was released.

In August 2017, McHenry was awarded $175,700 under Michigan's compensation law.

– Maurice Possley

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Posting Date: 5/11/2017
Last Updated: 8/16/2017
State:Michigan
County:Wayne
Most Serious Crime:Attempted Murder
Additional Convictions:Assault, Illegal Use of a Weapon
Reported Crime Date:2012
Convicted:2013
Exonerated:2017
Sentence:16 to 27 years
Race/Ethnicity:Black
Sex:Male
Age at the date of reported crime:20
Contributing Factors:Mistaken Witness ID
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:No