'I snapped:' Man pleads guilty to Lansing homeless encampment killing

LANSING — A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murder after confessing to police that he and another woman repeatedly stabbed a man to death and dumped his body in Sycamore Creek.

Brandon Addiss, 28, Amber Kohls, 26, and Matthew Green, 27, were homeless and living in a tent in Scott Woods Park in the week leading up to the murder. John William Darnell Jr. was staying in the same area. 

Addiss told police he got irritated because Darnell was talking about killing and eating them, according to court records. Darnell threatened to call the cops and have the trio arrested on outstanding warrants. 

He tackled Darnell to the ground and choked him, Addiss told police. Kohls stabbed him, then Addiss took the knife from her and stabbed him in the chest. They both cut his throat.

"I blacked out, I was so upset when he said something about calling the cops," Addiss said. "It just keeps replaying in my mind, him saying that he was gonna kill us and eat us and call the cops.

"I snapped."

When they determined Darnell was dead, Addiss, Kohls and Green wrapped him in a tent and blanket and dropped him in the river. They tied his body to a log so it wouldn't float away. 

"I didn't want to kill him. I just wanted to make a point," Addiss told police. 

Kohls and Green were the first to speak to police about the homicide, according to court records. Green led police to the body on Oct. 12 after police received a tip that day. Addiss confessed to police the next day. He told them he and Kohls stabbed Darnell, and that Green had nothing to do with the murder. 

Addiss pleaded guilty Sept. 12 to second-degree murder. His plea deal states his minimum sentence can't exceed 40 years.

Green was sentenced in August to 18 to 60 months in prison for accessory to murder for helping hide Darnell's body. Kohls' case is still pending in Ingham County Circuit Court. 

Contact Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.