The Murder of Leann Fletcher
For this case, I decided to watch an episode of Scorned: Love Kills on Discovery+, it’s season 1 episode 7, titled ‘Judgement Day.’
For anyone wondering how I pick the cases that I discuss, I don’t really have any method. I watch different shows and sometimes if I like a show I do multiple episodes of it. I liked this case, but I’m not a fan of reenactments, I prefer cases that have interviews and interrogations.
This case caught my eye because it’s about a love triangle and secrets. It’s tragic though, a young pregnant mother lost her life and the person who killed her is a monster.
Background
Michael and Leann Fletcher
Leann and Michael Fletcher lived in Hazel Park, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. They had been married for 6 years at the time of Leann’s death.
Michael just finished law school and was now an attorney in Warren, Michigan. Leann worked part time as a nail technician, so she could stay home with their daughter, while Michael worked late hours.
It seemed that Michael and Leann didn’t have the best relationship, but Leann was the one who wanted to do anything to make their marriage work. Michael was keeping secrets from Leann, and even though she was suspicious she didn’t want to get a divorce.
Michael’s Secrets
Michael was having an affair with an older woman, a judge named Susan Chrzanowski. It started when Susan was his mentor when he first started working as an attorney. They had an affair for over a year, but Michael said he made it clear that he wasn’t going to leave Leann.
Susan Chrzanowski
One day he ended his relationship with Susan, but the separation only last a few months. Again, he told Susan he wasn’t going to leave his wife and his daughter.
However, in 1999, he did file for divorce from Leann, and moved out. This separation didn’t last long either, though. According to Leann’s friends, he begged Leann to take him back and they didn’t want her to fall back into his trap. Leann wanted to make their marriage work, and do what she could to have a family again.
Michael’s Plan
On August 12, 1999, Leann told Michael she was pregnant. A few days later, on August 15, Michael and Leann went out to dinner with Leann’s family to tell them the good news. Michael seemed happy about the pregnancy and about their rekindled relationship.
Leann’s parents weren’t interviewed in this episode, but one of Leann’s friends said that Michael asked them to babysit the next day for them. He wanted to take Leann to the gun range, which confused Leann’s family. Leann apparently didn’t like guns, and didn't want any guns to be in the house. Michael had a .45 caliber, and he said he kept it in the house because he had been dealing with a drug deal case.
Leann’s parents agreed to babysit their daughter, Hannah. The next day they went to the gun range, and Leann had no idea it was all part of Michael’s plan.
The Murder
They returned home in the afternoon, and apparently went into their bedroom to spend time together. Michael soon called 911.
In the 911 call, he said Leann shot herself accidentally, and that there was blood everywhere. The police arrived soon after, and Leann was dead at 29 years old. They found her laying on the floor of their bedroom, with a gun shot wound to her head. They also found a .45 caliber gun near her right hand.
Another picture of Leann.
Investigation
The police brought Michael in for questioning, and right away they were suspicious. Detective Thomas Cleyman with the Hazel Park PD, said Michael didn’t have any blood on him, despite the crime scene being very bloody. He also didn’t appear to be upset about his wife being dead. Michael claimed that he checked Leann’s pulse, but Detective Cleyman didn’t buy it.
They also searched the Fletcher home, and found love letters from Susan in Michael’s office.
They had no evidence, so Michael was let go.
The Autopsy Results
Leann’s autopsy results were what confirmed that she didn’t kill herself. The medical examiner said that the gun shot was from 12-15 inches from Leann’s head, and that it was at a weird angle. This proved that Leann didn’t kill herself and that Michael killed her.
The police’s theory was that Michael took Leann to the gun range so that she would have gun shot residue on her hands. They also said that Michael was upset about the pregnancy and killed her.
Arrest and Conviction
On August 19, 1999, Michael was arrested for the murders of Leann and his unborn child.
On June 12, 2000, his trial started. Michael said he was innocent, and that Leann killed herself after helping him load his gun. He said he left the room to clean up, and heard a shot.
During another investigation, they did find blood spatter on Michael’s shirt. It was very small amounts on his right sleeve, that probably sealed his fate and proved that he was in the room and killed Leann.
Michael was convicted of second degree murder and was given a life sentence, due to the brutal murder.
A more current photo of Michael
I’ll definitely have to read this book.
Other
Michael still claims he’s innocent and that Leann accidentally killed herself. Michael said:
“I wasn’t a very good husband. I should have been better and there’s nothing I can do to make that up,” “I didn’t kill my wife. I could never do anything like that. Never in a million years.”
Susan, Michael’s mistress, was never charged with anything. She was suspended when this crime happened for lying and trying to cover up her affair. She was able to be a judge again a few years later, and as of 2006, she started her own practice in family law.
There are several other shows about this case, including Forensic Files and American Justice, that I will definitely check out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Michael is a piece of shit. He was a liar and a cheater, and not all people who have affairs kill their significant others, but he did. I personally think he manipulated everyone, including Susan.
Michael deserves to rot in prison forever for killing Leann and their unborn child. He should have just divorced her as planned if he truly didn't want to be with her.
Sources
https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=132701&page=1
https://apnews.com/article/9d7ecf81cabb8ab386ddd3faaedf1ed6
