2 set for trial in GVSU advisor slaying

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Armed with a steak knife, both Maceo Scott and Timothy "TJ" Millier admit they went to Santiago Zapata Jr.'s northwest Grand Rapids home to rob him. But Zapata, a GVSU advisor, was killed and left in his basement for days, and both men will stand trial for his murder.

Scott and Miller, each 24, were arrested October 2 and charged with felony murder and armed robbery in Zapata's death at his home in the 900 block of Myrtle NW on or around September 21. His body was found in the basement on September 25.

The Kent County courtroom of Judge Benjamin Logan was packed Wednesday morning for the preliminary exam to determine if there was enough evidence to send the case to trial.

While both admit to a planned robbery, they told detectives different versions of who and how Zapata was killed.

Miller said he stayed outside while Scott went in the house. But Scott said Miller went in first, and claimed Miller punched and stabbed Zapata when he didn't give up his wallet.

"TJ stabbed him in the side, stabbed him a couple times," GRPD Detective Tim DeVries testified Wednesday. "Eventually Mr. Zapata went unconscious, limp."

Scott told detectives the two of them dragged Zapata down the steps of his home into the basement, but "Zapata begged for help" in the final moments of his life, DeVries said.

Then, DeVries said, "TJ became upset, grabbed a metal rod and opened the door back up, went back down the steps where Santiago was sitting and beat him."

Police later found that bloody pipe.

They took his wallet and keys and drove off in his car, the detective testified. Later they tried but were unsuccessful getting money from Zapata's ATM card.

Miller and Scott left the car at an apartment complex and dumped the knife, wallet and keys down a storm drain. Police later recovered the keys and wallet, but not the knife.

Zapata's longtime friend Patrick Reynolds said, "It's horrible and I can't believe human beings would act that way." What's worse, he said, is that Zapata mentored Miller after coaching his youth basketball team in middle school.

"It's disgusting that somebody that would help somebody the way Santiago did, would turn and treat him this way," Reynolds said.

Prosecutor Chris Becker said it doesn't matter which suspect is telling the truth. "Even if you didn't do it, you helped out," he said. "You're just as guilty."

Judge Logan bound them over for trial without bond and they remain lodged in the Kent County Jail.

24 Hour News 8's Amanda Jarrett contributed to this report.