Mobley hearing set for Friday
LAPEER CO. — Following years of what family and friends of Kenneth Carl Grondin felt was a travesty of justice, a visiting judge has ordered “KC” released from house arrest during a hearing on Tuesday of this week.
A request had been made by legal representation and family members of Grondin, after news of the apprehension of a second wanted suspect spread.
Within hours of the incident, Grondin was arrested as the prime (and only) suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Andrea Eilber who was found shot to death in a family member’s home in November of 2011.
Family members and friends have mounted a campaign to “Free KC” from wrongful conviction and have used social media, including a website to present their claims.
In a new twist to the case earlier this month, following DNA testing and other new evidence, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Office charged 42-year- old Chadwick Shane Mobley with first-degree murder, felony murder and felony firearm in the shooting death of Eilber.
Mobley had pulled off a Houdini-like act and escaped from police after his arrest–not once, but twice, before being recaptured and extradited back to Michigan for court proceedings.
In June of 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled the jury may have ruled erroneously. Then in February of 2019, Grondin’s conviction was reversed, and the case sent back to Lapeer County Circuit Court for a second trial.
Grondin’s lawyer and family members filed a motion with the Court to amend the conditions of his house arrest.
Court officials say he has been on house arrest for four years and was never a problem, staying with family members. According to family members, Grondin was allowed to make a trip to Florida with them.
Despite the change of conditions for the house arrest, the judge ruled Grondin still must wear an electronic ankle tether, but was given travel privileges by the court to travel inside of Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Wayne counties to meet with his legal team.
A spokesperson for the AG’s office claimed there is no evidence to exonerate Grondin from the first-degree murder conviction.
In a related matter, a probable cause hearing is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. to determine if there’s enough evidence against Mobley to proceed with a trial.
