MOUNT PLEASANT, MI — An ex-con accused of killing a 13-year-old girl during a nearly two-day rampage has been found psychologically fit for trial.
Isabella County Judge Sara Spencer-Noggel on Friday, Sept. 10, ruled that Isaiah G. “Zeek” Gardenhire, 40, is mentally competent to participate in future court proceedings. Spencer-Noggel based her findings on reports from staff at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti.
The judge had ordered Gardenhire sent to the facility for an evaluation on June 23.
According to law enforcement, Gardenhire in the early morning hours of June 6 launched a violent crime spree that began with him sexually assaulting a woman at her residence in the 4100 block of South Isabella Road in Union Township just outside of Mount Pleasant. At some point, Gardenhire turned his attention to the woman’s 13-year-old daughter, Adrie A. Dembowski.
The woman fled the scene and when police arrived, they found Adrie suffering from stab wounds. Though officers attempted to save Adrie’s life, she died of her injuries.
Gardenhire had fled the scene before police arrived. Isabella County Prosecutor David Barberi has said Gardenhire hid in a vacant unit at the nearby Jamestown Apartments before taking hostage two residents of an occupied unit. Gardenhire then repeatedly sexually assaulted the female resident, Barberi has said.
Gardenhire eventually robbed the residents of money and stole their 2014 Ford Fusion, according to officials. Amid a large-scale law enforcement manhunt, Gardenhire drove the Fusion to Flint Township, where he surrendered to police the night of June 7.
At his arraignment on June 8, Gardenhire behaved erratically, interrupting proceedings, guffawing, and flipping off the presiding judge.
Gardenhire faces 12 felonies in Isabella County: open murder, armed robbery, carjacking, first-degree home invasion, and first-degree criminal sexual conduct using a weapon, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with multiple variables, and two counts each of unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Open murder, armed robbery, carjacking, and criminal sexual conduct charges are all punishable by up to life in prison.
While Gardenhire was in custody on the Isabella County charges, authorities in Ingham County on Aug. 12 charged him with two counts of open murder, three counts of felony firearm, and single counts of felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent. The charges relate to the killings of Harley T. Owens, 39, and Kelsey Coon-Lennon, 29.
Owens’ and Coon-Lennon’s bodies were found about 2 a.m. on May 1 at a residence in the 600 block of Baker Street in Lansing when police responded to reports of gunfire. Charging documents indicate a date range of April 28 through May 1 for the crimes.
Community Outreach Coordinator Scott Hughes of the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office told MLive Lansing police investigators identified Gardenhire as a suspect, but he could not elaborate. Authorities have not divulged a motive for Owens’ and Coon-Lennon’s killings.
After the Ingham County killings but before Adrie’s slaying, Gardenhire on May 28 was charged in Mason County with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim 13 or younger. That crime allegedly occurred in May 2015.
A judge dismissed the Mason County case in July 12.
Gardenhire is to appear for a preliminary examination in Isabella County Trial Court at 9 a.m. on Oct. 27. In Ingham County, he is to appear for arraignment on Sept. 23.
Gardenhire has served at least two prison stints on convictions of second-degree home invasion and felon in possession of a firearm, crimes committed in Mason County in 2014 and Ingham County in 2004, respectively. The Michigan Department of Corrections discharged him in October 2020.
Gardenhire also served probation terms for convictions of attempted felonious assault and attempting to assault a jail employee in Isabella County in 2000.
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