A newlywed couple from Michigan found themselves in police custody instead of a honeymoon suite after being charged with the death of their groomsman on their wedding day. The couple, 22-year-old James Douglas Shirah and 21-year-old Savanah Nicole Collier, were celebrating their nuptials at a Flint pizzeria on August 30 when the incident occurred. Their groomsman, 29-year-old Terry Lewis Taylor, was later discovered with severe injuries resulting from a vehicular collision, as reported by law enforcement and prosecutors.
According to police, a dispute broke out after the wedding, which culminated in Shirah intentionally hitting Taylor with a large SUV he was driving at high speed. Taylor was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The newlyweds reportedly fled the scene but were apprehended shortly after.
Shirah is facing charges of second-degree murder. Collier, on the other hand, has been charged with one count of accessory to a felony. The couple’s actions have left many, including seasoned county prosecutor David Leyton, in disbelief. Leyton, who has been a prosecutor for 20 years, expressed his shock at the incident, stating he had never seen anything quite like it.
Following their separate arraignments, Shirah was denied bail, while Collier managed to post $1,000 of her $4,000 bond. The tragic incident has left Taylor’s family and friends in mourning. Taylor, a father of three, was expecting a fourth child with his fiancée, Nikki Robinson.
Robinson has since set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of Taylor’s burial. In a heartfelt message on the page, she described Taylor as an amazing person who was loved by many. His sudden and unexpected death has deeply affected many lives, she wrote. Taylor’s obituary paints a picture of a man who loved fishing, riding bikes and four-wheelers, his music, his children, his family and friends, his dog Kodiak, and good food.