Mother of man charged in Armada murder says her son is innocent

The mother of a Wales Township man charged in the murder of an Armada teen said the past few months have been a nightmare for her family.

"We will never be the same," Brenda Pupi said. "But I guarantee you, my son didn't do this."

Pupi sat in St. Clair County Judge Michael West's courtroom Monday while her son, James Donald VanCallis, pleaded guilty to a drug charge.

James Donald VanCallis, 32, and his father, James Bernard VanCallis, 66, pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana. Additional charges of maintaining a drug house and habitual offender were dismissed.

West ordered the elder VanCallis' tether be removed.

The father and son were arrested at the end of July after investigators found a marijuana growing operation at their Marquette Road home.

Investigators from several agencies searched the VanCallis residence July 30 and Aug. 18 as police executed search warrants in the investigation of an Armada teenager's murder.

On Aug. 19, James Donald VanCallis was named a person of interest in the Armada killing.

The younger VanCallis was charged Oct. 9 in the death of 14-year April Millsap. He faces charges of first-degree murder, felony murder and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.

The Armada police chief has said James Donald VanCallis hit April from behind with a motorcycle helmet while she walked her dog on the Macomb-Orchard Trail, then stomped on her while beating her to death.

Chief Howard Smith has said VanCallis attempted to sexually assault April but was interrupted by a passer-by.

Pupi maintained her son did not kill April.

"James is a great father; he's a great kid," Pupi said. "He wouldn't do this."

The VanCallises' attorney, Dean Ankouny, said he has been reviewing evidence in the Macomb County case.

"There is an enormous amount of evidence," Ankouny said.

James Donald VanCallis will return to Macomb County District Judge Denis LeDuc's courtroom on Nov. 13 for a pre-exam conference. His preliminary examination on the murder charges was set for Dec. 16 and 17.

The VanCallises will be sentenced in St. Clair County on the drug charges at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 24 in West's courtroom.

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (810) 989-6259 or eleblanc@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @THBethLeBlanc.