Murder suspect is found dead

Raymond Bailey

Sumpter Township Police Chief Eric Luke told members of the township board of trustees that the man accused of a quadruple homicide in the community had been found dead in his cell at the Wayne County Jail.

Luke informed the trustees of the suspect's death during the Aug. 9 regular meeting. He said that Raymond Bailey, 39, was awaiting trial in the deaths of four people in a home in the 24000 block of Martinsville Road on Aug. 15, 2020.

Victims were sisters Laura and Sarah Tanner and their cousins, brothers Forrest and Neal Sampson. Bailey was charged with four counts of premeditated murder and also faced several weapons charges in the fatal shootings.

Following the deaths, Bailey fled the area but later surrendered himself to police in Bay City. According to his attorney, Bailey deliberately injured himself during his attempted escape and suffered a broken neck. He was arraigned from a hospital bed. His attorney said he would present an insanity defense at the trial set for next January.

No cause of death was available at press time.