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Michigan woman, 20, gets life in killing of man met on Craigslist

 

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. — A Madison Heights woman was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday in the beating death of a Sterling Heights man she met on Craigslist.

Bria Blackmon, 20, was convicted of murder, armed robbery and other charges by a Macomb County Circuit Court jury in February. Her stepbrother, Demonte Easterling, 20, of Harper Woods, also was convicted and was to be sentenced Thursday, but his sentence was adjourned until April 20, according to court records.

They were charged with killing Michael Scott Freeland, 57, a retiree whose body was found in his home after a fire in March 2015. He was found beaten in the head with items from within the home, police had said.

They said the motive for the assault was robbery and that the pair took Freeland's credit cards.

Police had said they found evidence from Freeland's computer and cell phone identifying Blackmon. She and Freeland met on Craigslist and established a dating relationship. They dated a week or so before the robbery plan was hatched, police had said.

Blackmon later admitted to robbing Freeland, leading to his death, police had said.

Follow Christina Hall on Twitter: @challreporter.

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