John Douglas White files motion hearing to have confession taken off the record

The man who allegedly murdered Rebekah Jane Gay in October will have a motion hearing March 28 about the use of his initial confession.

Isabella County Prosecutor Risa Scully said John Douglas White, 55, filed to have his confession taken off the record and not used as evidence.

“He has filed a motion to have his statement suppressed,” Scully said. “If the court granted the motion, then his confession could not be used in the trial.”

White’s trial is currently scheduled for May, though he also waived the preliminary examination beforehand after it had been pushed back.

Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said he was not surprised by the motion hearing because it is one of the normal actions taken in similar circumstances.

“It’s not unusual to see something like this,” Mioduszewski said. “That’s a right all individuals have in these types of cases.”

Mioduszewski said a defense attorney will try anything to have evidence thrown out when it goes against the defendant. Defense attorney Gordon M. Bloem is representing White during the motion hearing before Judge Paul Chamberlain.

It is still possible a pretrial conference can be set up, where the defense attorney can meet with the prosecutor and determine a plea bargain of whether to go to trial, Mioduszewski said.

White allegedly murdered Gay on Oct. 31 in her Broomfield Township mobile home, 3303 S. Coldwater Road. A self-described pastor, White was engaged to Gay’s mother and often babysat Gay’s three-year old son.

White confessed to the murder, blaming it on a two-week sexual fantasy he had to kill Gay and have sex with her dead body. He told the police he did not remember carrying out his fantasy because he drank four or five beers before going to Gay’s home.

Gay’s body was discovered in a stand of pine trees on Coldwater Road, and the mallet and bloody towels used were discovered off of Pickard Road near Woodruff Road.

White was arraigned in Isabella County Trial Court on charges of open murder, first-degree and premeditated murder without bond.

According to the Associated Press, White has two prior convictions, one for manslaughter in Kalamazoo County and another for attacking a young woman in Calhoun County. He was released from prison in 2008.