John Jefferson
Darnell Larry was sentenced to between five years and six years, eight months in prison for his role in the murder of Dan “Hutch” Hutchinson, a popular jeweler in Michigan. (WJBK/YouTube)
The man who originally was hired to kill a popular jeweler in Michigan only to farm out the job to his cousin was sentenced last week.
A judge sentenced Darnell Larry, 46, to up to six years and eight months in prison for his role in the murder of Dan “Hutch” Hutchinson, 47, and the attempted murder of Hutchinson’s wife as they sat in their SUV outside their pawnshop in 2022. He received credit for 675 days of time served.
Attorney Marco Bisbikis hired Larry to kill Hutchinson after Bisbikis wrote himself into Hutchinson’s trust and will, giving him access to millions. But Larry in turn hired his cousin, Roy Larry, to commit the murder. Roy Larry rolled up on an e-bike to Hutchinson’s SUV on June 1, 2022, and opened fire.
Hutchinson was killed, and his wife, Marisa Hutchinson, survived.
In exchange for Darnell Larry’s testimony, prosecutors dropped murder charges and he pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder.
In the trial, Marisa Hutchinson testified about her and her husband’s lucrative, largely cash-only business catering to entertainers, sports stars and others, the Oakland Press reported. The business ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic — when everybody else was locked down — jumping from $7 million in 2019 to $30 million in 2021, she said.
“Business was through the roof. It was hard to keep up,” she testified, the paper reported. “People had a lot of money during the pandemic — and they were itching to spend it.”
She talked about their will being created weeks before her husband was murdered. She said she didn’t ask questions or look at the paperwork.
“My husband trusted Mr. Bisbikis completely,” she said in court, the Royal Oak Daily Tribune reported.
Under an immunity agreement, Marisa Hutchinson testified that the jewelry store didn’t report all its cash transactions, in an attempt to avoid having to file tax forms. That unreported tax, she reportedly said, went to Bisbikis.
“Marco explained to us that over time this could go through a trust account, a lawyer trust account,” she said during the trial, according to WJBK. “Because of lawyer-client privilege, the origin of that money could not be questioned.”
Marco Bisbikis, left inset, and Roy Larry, middle inset, were found guilty in the murder of Dan “Hutch” Hutchinson, right inset. (Crime scene screenshot from WJBK/YouTube; Mug shots from Oakland County Sheriff — Michigan; Victim’s photo from his obituary)
Bisbikis and Roy Larry were found guilty in May of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, and two counts of felony firearm. A judge sentenced each of them to life in prison last month.
As Law&Crime previously reported, family members tore into the defendants in court.
“Our grandma taught us to never use the word hate, Marco,” the victim’s sister said in court, recorded in video from inside the courtroom by Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK. “But we hate you. We all hate you. And Roy, I hope you rot from the inside out and die a horribly painful death.”
Bisbikis tried to argue he was wrongfully convicted over bad paperwork and said he’d appeal.
“I will be back, and I will be able to prove my innocence,” he said.
Roy Larry apologized while also saying he was wrongfully convicted.
“I do want to apologize to the Hutchinson family,” he said, turning to them, hands cuffed, adding, “I did not kill your family member.”
Before handing down the sentences, Oakland County Circuit Judge Nanci Grant remarked, “Nobody in this case was perfect. Nobody in this case deserved to lose their life for that.”
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in the news release that the long-planned murder was motivated by greed.
“The sentences handed down by Judge Grant today will not bring Daniel Hutchinson back, but I hope they bring his family some peace,” she said.
Jason Kandel and Colin Kalmbacher contributed to this report.
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