2008 Woodie Awards
Local woman slain, husband flees
2 Mary Babb murder
Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: Year in Review
This story was originally published Jan. 9
Staff Reports
A Gaylord man was arrested Jan. 9 in Osceola County after he shot and killed his wife earlier in the afternoon in downtown Mount Pleasant.
Mary Babb, 30, was shot around 4:30 p.m. in the Commerce Center parking lot, 711 W. Pickard Road, police officials said. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Central Michigan Community Hospital.
Her husband, Thomas D. Babb, 37, fled the scene after the incident and was picked up in Osceola County by local authorities. He was taken into custody at approximately 7:10 p.m.
Dan Catlin, then the Mount Pleasant Police Department public information officer, said Thomas Babb was waiting for the victim outside The Morning Sun office where she worked. He then rammed his charcoal gray 2007 Z71 Chevy pickup into the victim's SUV after she got inside, flipping it.
He apparently tried to run Mary Babb off the road, Catlin said.
"There will be a full criminal investigation," Catlin said.
Morning Sun Ad Director Don Negus said Thomas Babb got out of his vehicle, shot Mary Babb once, turned to a witness and shot her a second time.
Catlin said two shots were fired at the victim's chest with a 20-gauge shotgun at close range. The victim still was in the vehicle when Thomas Babb shot her, police said. Then he fled the scene in his pickup.
Negus and fellow employee Donna Pung were the first to get to Babb.
"We lost her pulse while we were out there," Negus said.
Thomas Babb's pickup was found in the ditch on Seven Mile road near Evart. He was given a ride by a passerby, Catlin said. The suspect was headed to his parents' house.
Catlin said the victim had a personal protection order against Thomas Babb. The suspect was known to frequent the Gaylord/Evart area.
news@cm-life.com
Staff Reports
A Gaylord man was arrested Jan. 9 in Osceola County after he shot and killed his wife earlier in the afternoon in downtown Mount Pleasant.
Mary Babb, 30, was shot around 4:30 p.m. in the Commerce Center parking lot, 711 W. Pickard Road, police officials said. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Central Michigan Community Hospital.
Her husband, Thomas D. Babb, 37, fled the scene after the incident and was picked up in Osceola County by local authorities. He was taken into custody at approximately 7:10 p.m.
Dan Catlin, then the Mount Pleasant Police Department public information officer, said Thomas Babb was waiting for the victim outside The Morning Sun office where she worked. He then rammed his charcoal gray 2007 Z71 Chevy pickup into the victim's SUV after she got inside, flipping it.
He apparently tried to run Mary Babb off the road, Catlin said.
"There will be a full criminal investigation," Catlin said.
Morning Sun Ad Director Don Negus said Thomas Babb got out of his vehicle, shot Mary Babb once, turned to a witness and shot her a second time.
Catlin said two shots were fired at the victim's chest with a 20-gauge shotgun at close range. The victim still was in the vehicle when Thomas Babb shot her, police said. Then he fled the scene in his pickup.
Negus and fellow employee Donna Pung were the first to get to Babb.
"We lost her pulse while we were out there," Negus said.
Thomas Babb's pickup was found in the ditch on Seven Mile road near Evart. He was given a ride by a passerby, Catlin said. The suspect was headed to his parents' house.
Catlin said the victim had a personal protection order against Thomas Babb. The suspect was known to frequent the Gaylord/Evart area.
news@cm-life.com
