Relatives and friends became concerned when they couldn’t contact Michael and asked law enforcement to check on his well-being. When police went to the house that the twelve year-old shared with his mother, they found Michael’s body lying in the bathtub with his hands and fee duct-taped together and covered in cat litter. They also found large buckets, plastic bags, googles, a knife, and a hatchett. They arrested Angela Mann, 46, just before she was able to dismember the body and dispose of it.
The body was so badly decomposed that dental records were obtained to make the final identification. The state of deterioration also made it impossible to determine cause of death.
For the sixth grader’s father, Lenny Belitz, Michael’s death was especially sad. Belitz had just reestablished a relationship with his son after completing rehab. Michael told his dad about his mother’s sometimes irrational behavior.
He claims his son told him that he would sometimes barricade himself in his room though, away from Mann. “When his mom would go on a rampage he would just go in his bedroom and shut the door.”
Reports indicate that family members had also been concerned about Michael and his living conditions, but there was never an investigation launched even after Manns called social services requesting that her son be put in foster care.
Once Michael’s remains were examined, Belitz had to petition for custody of his son in order to arrange for burial after Manns refused to sign a release form.
Manns has been ruled competent to stand trial for first degree murder in her son’s death. She could face up to life imprisonment or even death if found guilty.
Michael was remembered fondly at a vigil held in his honor at the school he attended.
Michael was full of energy, talked a lot and loved to be around adults.
“He was one of those kids who as soon as you knew him, you loved him,” said his fifth-grade teacher, Dana Barker.
She would read a book aloud to the class, and within a month, Michael would have the whole series read, she said.
If she was having a bad day, she remembered, he would notice and ask what was wrong.
“He was so selfless,” Barker said. “I couldn’t wait to see where he would be in 10 years.”
white female, 8 years old, 4′, 65 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She has a very thin build.
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