A Deadly Education Tia Skinner and Jonathan Kurtz

In season 6 episode 2, the murder of Ted Skinner by Tia Skinner is shown. This happened in the state of Michigan. The show is titled A Deadly Education and is described as: Responding to a home invasion, police find one family member has been killed while another has been left in critical condition; it doesn't take long for detectives to start suspecting the culprit could be someone very close to home..

Tia Skinner was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to life. Since she was a minor at the time of the crime, she has won several appeals but remains in prison for life. Her only motive on the attack on both her parents was they did not approve of her boyfriend who she had only been dating for two weeks. Family members wanted her to remain in life for prison. It is not known if she has a relationship with her mother still or not.

Her appeal includes:

In Skinner, the 17-year-old defendant enlisted friends to kill her parents, and they succeeded in killing one of them. The defendant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to mandatory life without parole. After the United States Supreme Court held in Miller v Alabama, 567 US 460; 132 S Ct 2455; 183 L Ed 2d 407 (2012), that a mandatory sentencing scheme of life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders is unconstitutional, the Michigan Legislature enacted MCL 769.25, providing for a term of years for juveniles who commit first-degree murder (or certain other offenses), unless the prosecution files a motion seeking life without parole, and the trial court holds a hearing. In this case, following a hearing, the defendant was resentenced to life without parole, over defense objection that this decision could only be made by a jury under Apprendi v New Jersey, 530 US 466, 476; 120 S Ct 2348; 147 L Ed 2d 435 (2000), in light of Montgomery v Louisiana, 577 US ___; 136 S Ct 718; 193 L Ed 2d 599 (2016), and Miller v Alabama. In a split decision, the Court of Appeals agreed with the defendant and remanded for resentencing before a jury. This Court has granted leave to address whether the decision to sentence a juvenile to life without parole under MCL 769.25 must be made by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.  

In Hyatt, the 17-year-old defendant helped family members to carry out a plan to rob a security guard of his firearm. During the robbery, the guard was fatally shot. The defendant was convicted of first-degree felony murder and, after a hearing on the prosecutor’s motion, the trial court sentenced him to life without parole under MCL 769.25. The Court of Appeals held that it was bound to follow People v Skinner, 312 Mich App 15 (2015), but declared a conflict, expressing its opinion that a jury need not make the sentencing decision. Subsequently, the Court of Appeals convened a conflict-resolution panel, which unanimously agreed that no jury is needed. However, a four-judge majority of the conflict panel nevertheless ordered resentencing, believing that the trial court had erred by failing to decide whether the defendant exhibited “irreparable corruption” so as to deserve life without parole. The conflict panel declared that sentencing courts must start with the understanding that, more likely than not, life without parole is not a proportionate sentence for a juvenile. The conflict panel also declared the appellate standard of review in these cases to be “abuse of discretion” based on the notion that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole is “inherently suspect” and probably disproportionate. This Court has directed oral argument to address whether the Court of Appeals conflict-resolution panel erred by applying a heightened standard of consideration and review for sentences imposed under MCL 769.25.

You can write to Tia Skinner at:

Tia Skinner 814780

Huron Valley Complex

3201 Bemis Road
Ypsilanti, MI 48197-0911

Jonathan Kurtz was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life.

You can write to Jonathan Kurtz at:

Jonathan Kurtz 809153

Baraga Maximum Facility

 13924 Wadaga Road
Baraga, MI 49908-9204