How did 6 Information Investigates be taught of former Michigan State Police Trooper Megan Moryc’s story?
“Here for you” isn’t just a slogan right here at 6 Information. It’s a deeply held worth. And our repute for getting deep right into a story and reporting on the happenings in your neighborhood is vital to how we discovered of Moryc’s story.
Digital and Investigative Reporter Todd Heywood has been deeply concerned within the higher Lansing neighborhood for greater than three a long time. As a journalist, he earned a repute because the individual to show to for reporting on sexual harassment and sexual assault greater than 15 years in the past. He’s developed and honed a trauma-informed interview course of particularly designed to permit survivors of sexual and home violence to really feel secure, not be retraumatized in retelling their tales and to really feel empowered to talk their fact.
Heywood’s work was famous and knowledgeable by native therapist Lauren Allswede of Northstar Wellness Heart in Lansing. Allswede had recommended survivors of sexual assault and home violence whom Heywood has interviewed.
When Moryc advised her, as a therapist, she needed to publicly inform her story, Allswede reached out to Heywood, who met with Moryc for an off-the-record dialogue that led to this sequence
How did 6 Information Investigates examine the allegations leveled by former Michigan State Police Trooper Megan Moryc?
After that preliminary assembly between Heywood and Moryc in late August 2024, at a espresso store in southwest Lansing, Moryc agreed to offer 6 Information Investigates with each doc she had in her possession. She had already sued the MSP in Eaton County Circuit Court docket, and as a part of the due diligence, she and her legal professional have been submitting quite a few associated Freedom of Info Act requests with the MSP and county prosecutors all through the state.
Moryc shared the outcomes of these FOIA requests and supplied 6 Information with each authorized submitting in her 2021 arbitration case, the arbitrator’s determination and all the next authorized briefs.
6 Information Investigates additionally visited Ingham County Circuit Court docket and Eaton County Circuit Court docket. They pulled related paperwork, together with transcripts, from Moryc’s pending civil instances and filed FOIA requests with a number of county prosecutors who had been appointed as particular prosecutors for a number of of the MSP instances concerned in Moryc’s prolonged authorized course of.
As well as, Moryc sat for hours of interviews with 6 Information within the autumn of 2024 and a follow-up phone-recorded interview in December 2024. 6 Information tried to achieve each trooper talked about on this report, however just one responded, by textual content message, referring 6 Information Investigates to MSP authorized officers. To succeed in MSP authorized would require the cooperation of MSP Communications Director Shanon Banner, who declined or didn’t reply to quite a few particular questions associated to this investigation. Banner opted, as an alternative, to situation two statements associated to Moryc’s accusations.
There was roughly a 4-month interval throughout the investigation when Heywood was coping with well being points, delaying the reporting and roll-out of this sequence of studies. Throughout that point, the MSP administrative course of continued, leading to Moryc’s second firing. Consequently, 6 Information Investigates needed to rewrite the sequence, working with nationwide editors from our company mother or father firm, Nexstar.
In all, 6 Information Investigates gathered tons of of pages of paperwork by way of FOIA and from Moryc, in addition to from the courts. 6 Information Investigates additionally obtained audio recordings of interviews performed throughout a number of investigations, in addition to surveillance footage that MSP officers argue reveals Moryc committing fourth-degree prison sexual conduct and easy assault and battery. 6 Information Investigates additionally obtained video of Moryc’s former live-in lover and former Michigan State Police Trooper Trevin Antcliff, who was accused of committing home violence in opposition to his girlfriend in 2023.
Why is 6 Information Investigates offering all of the studies, movies, audio recordings and extra?
The Society for Skilled Journalists’ Code of Ethics requires journalists concerned on this reporting to be clear. As a newsroom and workforce, it was determined that each doc we had gathered, in addition to movies and audio, can be printed. This transparency permits you, our viewers and readers, to confirm that our reporting is predicated on what the paperwork say.
A few of these paperwork have been flippantly edited to take away private info that will violate the privateness of some people on the perimeter of those points. This contains the identify of Trevin Antcliff’s girlfriend and a neighborhood regulation enforcement agent who filed a prison criticism in opposition to a Lakeview trooper who secretly recorded them having intercourse and shared that video. The house addresses, emails and telephone numbers of all concerned have been excluded. State of Michigan e mail addresses have been NOT redacted by 6 Information Investigates – nevertheless, in among the paperwork, the MSP FOIA staff have redacted these state of Michigan e mail addresses.
6 Information Investigates decided it could not publish two paperwork obtained throughout this investigation.
One doc, psychological well being progress notes from Pine Relaxation Christian Psychological Well being Providers about former MSP Trooper Trevin Antcliff, won’t be printed. Though the doc is cited and quoted, it incorporates myriad private particulars about Antcliff that 6 Information Investigates deemed too private and customarily irrelevant to the reporting.
The second doc is a Little one Protecting Providers sequence of studies involving Antcliff’s household. The data includes minor kids and would clearly implicate the privateness of these kids. References to allegations leveled by Antcliff’s ex-wife, Nina, are taken from courtroom filings within the couple’s divorce case and supply sufficient readability and knowledge with out violating the privateness of the minor kids.
Does WLNS have a motivation or agenda behind reporting this story?
No.
6 Information Investigates started this course of in August 2024. The case raises important questions concerning the Michigan State Police’s inside investigations and self-discipline course of, together with sexual harassment, allegations of retaliation and extra. MSP investigators and officers, working with assistant attorneys basic within the Division of the Lawyer Normal, have spent hours and hours on taxpayers’ time investigating allegations, writing studies, holding disciplinary hearings, researching and submitting authorized briefs for arbitrations and courtroom proceedings associated to Moryc’s case alone.
As this story was being ready for publication, unions representing the MSP rank-and-file and command workers launched surveys performed of their members expressing no confidence within the management of Col. James Grady III and Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe. These survey outcomes led the unions and a few state lawmakers to name for the resignations of each leaders
6 Information Investigates firmly believes in transparency, significantly in how taxpayers’ {dollars} are spent. The Society for Skilled Journalists’ Code of Ethics explicitly requires us to assessment and, if we discover questions, to research and report on instances resembling Moryc’s.
MSP was supplied a number of alternatives to answer pages of questions on choices made, investigations, video, prosecution, self-discipline and extra. MSP Communications Director Shanon Banner repeatedly declined to reply a lot of the particular questions posed by 6 Information Investigates. She opted to ship broad statements as an alternative.
What steps did you are taking to assessment this reporting?
6 Information Investigates has labored hand in hand with editors from our mother or father firm, Nexstar, by way of a number of drafts and revisions of this reporting. These evaluations and communications started in late 2024 and proceed as this story is being launched to the general public. The method is a detail-oriented one designed to topic the reporting to the best requirements in moral {and professional} journalism.
What oversight at the moment exists for Michigan State Police?
Michigan State Police Col. James Grady. (WLNS)
The Michigan State Police is at the moment overseen by Col. James Grady III. Moryc’s case started underneath the management of former Col. Joseph Gasper. Colonel is the best rank within the Michigan State Police. The place is appointed by the governor. Each Gasper and Grady have been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.
Regarding overseeing that sworn regulation enforcement staff, in addition to civilians, observe MSP guidelines and rules, in addition to the regulation, the company has a division often known as the Skilled Requirements Part. It previously was known as Inner Affairs.
Particular lieutenants and above in PSS examine prison and coverage violations introduced in opposition to troopers, command workers and civilian staff. If an investigation is prison, inside disciplinary investigations are opened – however promptly frozen – whereas a prison investigation is performed and reviewed by prosecutors. Usually, prosecutors who work day by day with accused troopers and civilians will request the appointment of a particular prosecutor by the Division of Michigan Lawyer Normal, which means. The case can be assigned to a prosecutor in one other county. That prosecutor would assessment the prison investigation and decide if expenses are warranted. If the MSP worker is charged criminally, the disciplinary case stays frozen whereas the worker goes by way of the prison justice course of. – Regardless of if a prosecutor declines to situation a warrant, a decide or prosecutor dismisses the case, a jury finds responsible or not responsible, or there’s a plea deal, after that conclusion, the MSP inside investigation begins once more.
An inside investigation differs from a prison investigation in that an accused trooper is required to reply questions concerning the allegations. These solutions can’t be utilized in prison proceedings in opposition to them.
Even when an MSP worker just isn’t prosecuted criminally, the allegation of violating the regulation can, in itself, turn into a coverage violation leading to self-discipline as much as and together with termination of employment. That’s what occurred most not too long ago with Moryc.
Below the prevailing union contracts, an worker is allowed a disciplinary listening to to plea in opposition to a proposed self-discipline. A self-discipline committee is shaped, and a listening to is scheduled provided that a criticism and investigation lead to a sustained discovering associated to the allegations.
Self-discipline will be appealed by way of the state administrative regulation system. That’s known as a grievance. Grievances will be – however are hardly ever – appealed to a neighborhood circuit courtroom.
Generally, MSP staff underneath investigation are suspended with pay. Generally they’re suspended with out pay.
This particular person beforehand pleaded responsible; would that imply she admitted culpability to those points?
Megan Moryc did enter a “no contest” plea in Grand Traverse County District Court docket. A “no contest” plea means, in primary phrases, the individual doesn’t imagine a criminal offense has been dedicated however that the state might have the proof to persuade a jury of a criminal offense.
It’s not a responsible plea in a conventional sense. Responsible pleas require an individual to confess to the crime they’re charged with committing. They assert that guilt is established underneath questioning by the courtroom.
At sentencing, nevertheless, a “no contest” plea is handled as a responsible plea for the aim of the courtroom’s punishment. A “no contest” plea can assist an accused individual keep away from civil punishment by a sufferer as a result of the accused’s guilt, due to this fact legal responsibility, just isn’t absolutely established. Moryc provided her plea underneath the recommendation of her legal professional, who had negotiated punishment with prosecutors. The decide in her case put aside that punishment settlement and despatched her to jail.
MSP officers would, after Moryc’s sentencing and jail time period, hearth her for the prison allegations, together with the 2 counts of prison sexual conduct. An arbitration decide dominated that she was not ready to search out Moryc had dedicated prison sexual conduct and that six months’ unpaid suspension, 30 days in jail and the misdemeanor conviction have been all a part of her punishment.
That ruling was appealed by way of the Michigan Courts to the Michigan Supreme Court docket. The arbitration determination was upheld by each the Michigan Court docket of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court docket.
Is there any proof that prime management on the Michigan State Police was conscious of Moryc’s points?
There may be clear proof that command workers – from the sergeant stage up – on the Lakeview Submit have been conscious of among the home violence and alcohol considerations associated to Antfliff and expressed by Moryc.
The information additionally reveal that in at the very least one occasion, Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe was instantly looped into a proper criticism Moryc filed in opposition to the MSP alleging that the perjury investigation into her testimony in Antcliff’s divorce proceedings was retaliation. These information reveal the MSP Human Sources Director copied Brimacombe on the criticism. The investigatory report reveals Brimacombe herself known as and directed Capt. Cameron Henke to provoke a Skilled Providers Part investigation of the allegations. Henke would decide the perjury investigation was a pure outgrowth of Moryc’s home violence and sexual assault claims in opposition to Antcliff. Consequently, he decided, no insurance policies or procedures of the MSP had been violated.
An e mail from Capt. Thomas Deasy reveals that Henke’s report was “just what we needed.”
Col. James Grady III, the highest commander on the MSP, doesn’t seem to have been copied on any emails associated to Moryc’s case. Nonetheless, he testified earlier than the State Home Oversight Committee on July 1 that as the highest commander, he usually reviewed with the command workforce, preliminary and last self-discipline in high-profile instances. He was particularly speaking a few case during which an MSP Trooper was charged with placing and killing a fleeing suspect with an unmarked police automobile. The trooper was suspended with out pay, and the company put out statements condemning the actions of the trooper even earlier than an inside prison and/or disciplinary investigation had been accomplished.
It stays unclear if Grady was briefed on Moryc’s case. Moryc had been fired, however reinstated after a multi-year courtroom battle from arbitration to the Michigan State Supreme Court docket, on Oct. 2, 2024. When she was lastly ordered to report for obligation on Oct. 2, 2024, she was already months right into a state civil rights lawsuit in opposition to the company.
Moryc had sued the company in Eaton County Circuit Court docket, accusing the MSP of sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation. An Eaton County Circuit Court docket Decide within the autumn of 2024 dominated that the company’s perjury investigation might be added as an alleged act of retaliation in Moryc’s civil rights case.
Logic would dictate that Grady was briefed and signed off on the choice in February to terminate Moryc for perjury, significantly in mild of his personal July 1 testimony. He has signed an affidavit within the civil rights case swearing, underneath penalty of perjury, that he didn’t have private or uncommon data related to Moryc’s case and due to this fact shouldn’t be required to be deposed.
What are the subsequent steps in Moryc’s case, and what 6 Information Investigates will report?
Former Michigan State Police Trooper Megan Moryc remains to be battling the company in courtroom and the executive regulation area. She and union representatives have challenged her Feb. 13, 2025, termination from the MSP for mendacity throughout a divorce continuing in October 2018. An arbitration ruling may come anytime within the subsequent 6 weeks.
Her case in Eaton County Circuit Court docket was delayed for a short while when her former legal professional, Patrick O’Keefe, requested to be faraway from her case because the legal professional of report. On July 8, Eaton County Circuit Court docket on-line information reveal East Lansing civil rights legal professional Liz Abnour filed an look as Moryc’s new counsel of report. A July 31 listening to is scheduled. That listening to is a movement by the Michigan State Police, by way of the Division of the Lawyer Normal attorneys, to compel testimony.
Abnour may file a movement to adjourn these proceedings to higher wrap her arms across the discovery already made, learn deposition transcripts and extra. Decide Kelly Morton dominated on Might 27 that O’Keefe’s request to withdraw as Moryc’s legal professional was granted, however a movement to adjourn proceedings was not. Moryc was given till July 11 to rent an legal professional who would enter an look on her behalf or characterize herself.
Morton ordered {that a} new legal professional may request an adjournment. It’s unclear how the change in attorneys will influence the case’s trajectory and timing.
6 Information Investigates will proceed to observe Moryc’s case particularly by way of courtroom visits, paperwork and extra. We’ll hold you recent as we be taught of developments in her case, particularly.
As well as, 6 Information Investigates is fastidiously monitoring the political oversight course of within the Michigan Home and the Senate. The Michigan Oversight Committee has been taking depositions from present and former troopers and commanders concerning the ongoing low morale and fears of retaliation. As this investigation and oversight course of continues, 6 Information Investigates and 6 Information Capital Correspondent Tim Skubick will hold you posted with developments.
We’re right here for you, too. For those who, or somebody you already know, is concerned particularly in a case on the Michigan State Police involving accusations of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, or different misconduct or wrongdoing, please e mail us at [email protected]. Our workforce is able to work with you. Simply because the 6 Information Investigates Crew has fastidiously gathered and reviewed paperwork from a number of sources, together with Moryc, we’ll seemingly ask you to share what paperwork you might have and are prepared to share.
And in case you have different tales you suppose are necessary for six Information Investigates to dive into, tell us. You may e mail us your concepts along with your contact info at [email protected]. In case you are to higher perceive among the instances we tackle a 6 Information Examine, please go to the 6 Information Investigates tab on our dwelling web page at WLNS.com.
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