Suicide ruling clears Niles man

Woman was second to die in his Carberry Road home since 1982

By JEFF ROMIG
Tribune Staff Writer


CASSOPOLIS -- Steven Phelps has been cleared in the Nov. 17, 2003, death of Karen Reeves, which has been ruled a suicide.

After an eight-month investigation, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Monday that Reeves, 34, died of a self-inflicted .22-caliber gunshot wound to the chest.

Phelps -- who found Reeves dead in their home during his lunch hour -- was questioned in her death.

She was the second woman to die at his residence at 113 Carberry Road in Niles.

Patricia Jo Lutin, Phelps' 28-year-old girlfriend, was fatally shot in the head with a .28-caliber revolver on May 24, 1982. Phelps was charged with second-degree murder in her death and was acquitted.

No charges were ever filed against Phelps in Reeves' death.

Fitz sent out a four-page news release Monday detailing eight phone conversations Reeves had between 7:02 and 9:31 a.m. on the morning of her death.

Fitz said the combination of "extensive" forensic tests, the phone conversations -- which Phelps recorded -- and more than 50 interviews led his office and the Michigan State Police to rule Reeves' death a suicide rather than homicide.

"The case is closed as far as the homicide is concerned," Fitz said.

An investigation into drug-related activity between Reeves and unidentified persons is still open, and charges could be brought for possession and delivery.

Phelps isn't involved in that investigation, Fitz said. Calls to Phelps' home were not returned Monday afternoon.

Fitz said the suicide determination took as long as it did because of the array of forensic tests that had to be performed.

He said the recordings of the phone conversations were turned over to police in the immediate days following Reeves' death.

The details of those conversations provided by Fitz painted a picture of drug abuse, financial and relationship problems, and legal issues.

"Reeves' tone of voice during the eight phone calls runs through a wide range of emotions, including anger, sadness, resignation and despondency," Fitz said in his release.

During several of the conversations, Reeves alluded to suicide.

"I took these pills and passed out," she said during the first call. "I slept all day yesterday and all night. I was kind of hoping I just would never wake up. How many pills do you got to take to not wake up?"

In a 7:48 a.m. conversation, she stated that she wanted to die, and was looking for a loaded gun in the house.

In the sixth call, she said, "I guess that's the life you live when you do drugs, or kill yourself, one of the two."

In the seventh call, beginning at about 9:10 a.m., she said good-bye to a close acquaintance, and in her final call, she told someone that she wasn't going to court and that she wasn't "sticking around," but would make "other plans."

Evidence, including a parking lot videotape and statements of his co-workers at Beachcomber Resort, placed Phelps at work from early morning until shortly after noon.

He then followed his general routine and went home for lunch, where he found Reeves lying on the floor. He then called 911.

The release said Reeves was found on the main floor in an open area next to the kitchen. A .22-caliber handgun was found by her in a "location consistent with her having used it to shoot herself," the release said.

The Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory processed the scene and found an entry wound in her chest, exiting out her back, with the bullet passing through a picture frame in the house.

"The path of the bullet as well as other forensic evidence are consistent with Reeves holding the handgun in her hands, pointing it at her torso/chest area and discharging the weapon into her body," the news release said.

Staff writer Jeff Romig: