After learning that Thomas and Raymond Highers were found guilty of murdering Robert Karey, attorney Kevin Zieleniewski realized he had no choice but to pursue legal action on their behalf. When Robert was murdered, Kevin was living in Detroit, Michigan, and he recalled that his former roommate John Hielscher had mentioned being in the area on the night of the tragedy. Kevin also recalled that Robert’s murder had been discussed by John. The audience is taken through the gruesome murder and given information regarding how Kevin and John were engaged in the investigation during the course of “Dateline: Graduation Night.” Let’s investigate the circumstances surrounding the homicide and see if we can figure out where Kevin and John are at the moment, shall we?

Kevin Zieleniewski

Who Are Kevin Zieleniewski and John Hielscher?

On June 26, 1987, a shotgun was used to kill Robert Karey, a well-known drug dealer in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Karey was shot at close range with the shotgun inside his own home. During this time period, Kevin was attending law school in Detroit. He and his roommate at the time, John Hielscher, used to share a room. Kevin found out not long after Robert’s murder that his roommate had been at the victim’s residence on the night in question in order to get some marijuana. This information came to Kevin not long after Robert’s death. However, John explained that just as they were ready to ask for the drug, they noticed a group of black people, which included two individuals armed with firearms, approach the back door of the house. John said that they decided not to ask for the drug. At that point, they decided to abandon their initial intention to get drugs and instead make a hasty exit. John and his buddies were trying to get away when they heard two thunderous blasts from a shotgun. After that, there was complete silence. However, neither John nor Kevin reported what they witnessed to the authorities during the original inquiry into the murder. Instead, they kept their observations to themselves.

In the meantime, a third eyewitness named Thomas Culberson came forward and stated that he saw two white males fleeing the scene of the crime immediately after the murder took place. A man by the name of Jamie Lawrence came forward and said that he had overheard someone named Thomas Highers talking about robbing and killing Robert Karey. This provided the police with an additional apparent breakthrough in their investigation. Jamie further said that both Thomas and his brother Raymond Highers owed the victim money, which provided them with a motive for murder. Raymond Highers was named as the alleged perpetrator of the crime.

As soon as the authorities took Thomas and Raymond Highers in for interrogation, both of them asserted that they were innocent and claimed that they had nothing to do with the incident. However, Thomas Culberson chose Raymond out of a photographic lineup and asserted that he was the one who was visibly observed fleeing the scene of the crime. Raymond was the only suspect that Culberson was able to identify. As a result, the police were able to make an arrest of the Highers brother and charge them with first-degree murder, assault with the purpose to murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The eyewitness testimony were very clear. After being brought before the court, Thomas and Raymond initially entered not guilty pleas, but they were ultimately found guilty of all charges. As a direct consequence of this, in the year 1988, they were each given a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release for first-degree murder, in addition to a few further years for their prior convictions. After that, the court would not reverse the convictions no matter how many petitions or motions were filed against them.

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Where Are Kevin Zieleniewski and John Hielscher Today?

In 2009, Kevin Zieleniewski became involved in the case after reading about the incident in a post on Facebook. The post described how Thomas and Raymond were found guilty of the crime. He took note of the fact that the two individuals held in custody were white, but he was certain that John, his roommate, had mentioned other armed individuals who were black. After that, Kevin gave John a call and attempted to persuade him to testify in support of the brother. The episode states that John had initial reservations about testifying but eventually came to the conclusion that he should speak up for what he believed was right. They presented the defense attorney for the Highers brothers with the evidence that they had gathered, and that attorney swiftly filed a motion for a new trial.

At the hearing for the motion, both John and another person named James Gianunzio testified that they had seen armed black males approach Robert’s door before the shotgun went off. John’s testimony was corroborated by the testimony of another individual named James Gianunzio. In the end, based on the testimony, the judge decided to allow a retrial, and even though Tomas and Raymond Highers were released on bond in 2012, the prosecution ultimately decided to abandon the case in 2013, which resulted in them being acquitted of all charges.

Regrettably, ever since then, John Hielscher has chosen to lead a life of seclusion and maintains a low profile on social media, which makes it difficult to ascertain his location at the present time. On the other hand, Kevin Zieleniewski appears to call Washington, District of Columbia, his home at the present time, and he is still active in the legal profession. It is likely that the readers will find it interesting to learn that Kevin has even been a guest on the show “Dateline,” where he has discussed his involvement in assisting the Highers brothers in expunging their criminal records.

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