Michigan tragedy unfolds with pet parrot bud as eerie echo of crime scene

In a bizarre turn of events, a woman has been convicted of killing her husband in Michigan, thanks to an unexpected witness – a parrot named Bud. The feathered companion reportedly echoed what was believed to be the victim’s ‘last words,’ adding a chilling dimension to the courtroom drama.

The incident dates back to May 2015 when Martin Duram was discovered dead in his Michigan residence, succumbing to five gunshot wounds from a .22 caliber handgun. Nearby, his wife Glenna was found alive but wounded, her life spared after what prosecutors later described as a failed suicide attempt.

The couple’s neighbors, alarmed by the uncharacteristic silence from the Duram household, made a grim discovery when they entered the home after two days of no communication. The scene led them to believe both were deceased until authorities arrived, revealing Glenna’s survival with a single gunshot wound.

During court proceedings, Sgt. Gary Wilson recounted the moment he touched Glenna to check her pulse, prompting her eyes to open and her body to jerk as she uttered, “What are you doing?”

Two years later, Glenna was convicted of first-degree murder, the culmination of a Newaygo County jury’s eight hours of deliberation. Financial struggles and Glenna’s gambling habits emerged as contributing factors leading up to the tragic event, as per police reports.

Remarkably, a unique piece of potential evidence emerged – Bud, Martin’s pet parrot, now under the care of his ex-wife Christina Keller. Bud began repeating the phrase ‘Don’t [expletive] shoot’ in Martin’s voice, a haunting detail that Keller believed could be the victim’s last words.

Although the parrot was not used in court, Keller recorded the eerie phrase, stating, “It terrified me. I hear screaming, yelling, and fear.” Prosecution initially considered Bud as a potential witness, acknowledging the unusual but compelling nature of the parrot’s mimicry.

In 2019, Glenna’s plea for a new trial was denied, claiming her rights were violated during cellphone data usage in the case. The Supreme Court later refused her appeal in 2020, affirming her life sentence at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan.

This unusual case raises questions about the unexpected role animals might play in criminal investigations and the fine line between circumstantial evidence and compelling narratives.