The gun-toting Michigan maniac who killed 5 individuals earlier than turning up lifeless Friday had a historical past of home abuse and was locked in a bitter divorce battle, courtroom data present.
Chad Hickman’s remaining social media posts blasted his ex-wife’s “b–lshit” allegations amid their failing marriage, which included her reporting to police his historical past of kid abuse.
The main points of the case aren’t solely clear, however Hickman, 39, was sentenced to a yr in jail after being convicted in 2024 of fourth-degree little one abuse and contributing to delinquency of kids in reference to a 2010 felony case, in accordance with courtroom data.
The courtroom, nonetheless, dismissed different fees he was going through, together with two counts of first-degree felony sexual conduct.
It’s unclear what number of youngsters the couple had collectively.
Katie Hickman, who now goes by Katie Frye, fumed Saturday that prosecutors let her ex-husband stroll, permitting for the mindless tragedy that claimed the lifetime of a teenage boy and his mom.
“Missaukee county must be held liable for the loss of life of this little one and the opposite victims! Six individuals are lifeless and one little one is in vital situation,” Frye slammed on Fb Saturday.
“Missaukee county prosecutor and Choose Ransom let this man stroll free after all the pieces he did to my kids and I after which when he was launched he was allowed to proceed to torment us and nobody stopped him and now harmless lives have been taken.”
Frye had alleged in divorce filings that Hickman was inherently violent and that their marriage was “characterised by management, coercion, and concern,” in accordance with the paperwork.
She additionally claimed she was compelled to bear the brunt of the monetary burden with Hickman solely working for one yr throughout their 12-year marriage, regardless of Frye coping with accidents that restricted her personal skill to work.
Hickman additionally allegedly stole money that the couple deliberate to make use of to renovate a rental property they shared.
“She testified that she lacked entry to monetary assets and marital belongings and was compelled to make choices and commitments below threats of hurt, together with bodily violence, sexual assault, and monetary management,” courtroom papers mentioned.
Family and friends testified that each Hickman and Frye have been violent towards each other in what the choose described as a “poisonous” relationship that was “outlined by volatility.”
The choose ordered the wedding to be dissolved in July 2025 — and the case was nonetheless transferring by way of the courts on the time of his lethal rampage.
The pair have been due in courtroom for a listening to on Sept. 1, a docket reveals.
“The whole lot my ex spouse mentioned about me was a lie and I’ve confirmed that in entrance of three completely different honorable judges,” Hickman railed in an October Fb submit through which he shared the choose’s 16-page opinion.
“Katie Hickman informed all these lies about me merely as a part of an orchestrated hit to take actually all the pieces we owned within the divorce after her many makes an attempt of blackmailing me didn’t work.”
He added within the submit that “Leaving Katie was the very best factor I ever did, regardless of each evil factor she threw at me I’ve by no means been happier.”
It’s not clear if the authorized battle performed an element in Friday’s murders.
Hickman, who had a big tattoo of a gun on his thigh, opened fireplace round 11:40 a.m. in a house, leaving three lifeless and one in vital situation, cops mentioned.
Two extra slain victims have been later discovered — one within the woods close to Whitlock Lake and one other in a separate house, in accordance with state police.
A manhunt was ignited to search out Hickman, with police warning that he must be thought-about armed and harmful.
He was ultimately discovered lifeless within the wooded space close to the lake, although it wasn’t instantly clear how he died.
Cops are nonetheless attempting to piece collectively the gunman’s motive. The names of his victims had not been launched by police as of Saturday afternoon.
