Dearborn Family Dollar Murder Suspect Asks Judge to Delay Pretrial Hearing

After a two-hour delay, the preliminary exam for Lavere Byrant, 34, of Dearborn was adjourned and rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 21.

Bryant is accused of killing Family Dollar employees Joseph Orlando and Brenna Machus earlier this month.

Bryant was charged last week with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of unlawful imprisonment, one count of armed robbery, felon in a possession of a firearm and felony firearm. He was due to appear at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning in front of Judge Sam Salamey at the 19th District Court.

Visibly irritated, Salamey inquired about the two-hour delay. Wayne County prosecutors informed Salamey that the jail transport initially took Bryant to the wrong courthouse.

Robert Kinney, a court-appointed defense attorney for Bryant asked Salamey to reschedule the hearing for Aug. 21.

"We have received 1,200 pages of discovery notes only this morning and we have not had time to read through all of that," Kinney said.

After informing Bryant of his right to waive a speedy trial, Salamey granted the request. Under Michigan law, a pretrial must be scheduled within 14 days from the date of arraignment. During the exam, the prosecutor has to prove that a crime was committed, or a law broken. Second, the prosecutor must prove that there is at least probable cause to believe the defendant committed that crime in order for a trial date to be scheduled.

Lauren Hodges, a cousin of Bryant's girlfriend, was in the court, along with his aunt, to witness the hearing.

"I'm completely shocked," Hodges said. "Lavere wouldn't do something like this. He is a good man who would do anything for anybody. He would just go to work, come home, pay his bills and take care of his family."

Hodges said Bryant was recently hired at a factory plant in Wyandotte.

"He had no reason to rob Family Dollar when he already had a job that paid better," she said. "I don't know why they are putting the finger on him. I think it's a case of mistaken identity."

Bryant was previously convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1999, for which he served 26 months in prison, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm in 2001. After being released from prison, Bryant found work at a Family Dollar store in Inkster.

"He had to be doing something right to be put in that type of position," Hodges said.

Cynthia Konkel, the mother of Joseph Orlando, was also in the courtroom grasping a picture of her son.

"Joe is my baby and I miss him every single day," Konkel said. "I want Lavere to see my son's face every time he steps into the courtroom. Whether it influences him or not, it's more for me than it is for him. I will be holding my son's picture to my heart every minute I am in the courtroom."

Konkel said she does not know if Bryant knew or ever met her son prior to his death.