Stewart murder accomplice to be freed

COLON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - It has been nearly two years since Venus Stewart disappeared from her parents' Colon Township home and nearly a year since her husband Doug Stewart was convicted of her killing her.

On Sunday, 24 Hour News 8 learned from Venus Stewart's family members that Doug Stewart's convicted accomplice Ricky Spencer is scheduled to be released from jail.

Family members received an e-mail from the Michigan Crime Victim Notification Network this weekend that said Spencer is scheduled to be released within about two weeks. The e-mail states Spencer is currently scheduled to be released March 11.

"You gotta be kidding me," said Venus' aunt Mary Ellen Hopkins. "12 months is a slap in the face. I mean, he literally got away with murder."

Hopkins and Venus Stewart's niece, Lauren Morris, told 24 Hour News 8 that the release aggravates a wound that has never quite closed.

"It doesn't get better," said Hopkins. "It hasn't got better. We're stuck in limbo. The tips [on where to find Venus Stewart's remains] are slim and few."

"There's good days and there's bad days and we are just trying to give the girls a normal life," said Morris.

Not a day goes by that Hopkins doesn't think about Venus, she said. She wonders about how she may have died and where her remains could be. And when she thinks about that, she inevitably thinks about Spencer.

"I'd like to listen to what he had to say," said Hopkins. "Even if Doug did tell him a lie, I know Doug told him something. They talked too often and too long."

She said she wants to talk to Spencer because he may know something without even realizing it.

"If Ricky knows anything, I would never prosecute him for it," said Hopkins. "I just want Venus' remains where they belong so her kids can go [visit them]."

Spencer testified against Doug Stewart during his trial in 2011. He told a packed courtroom that he had pretended to be Stewart in Virginia. Spencer said he, among other things, paid Doug Stewart's bills and wore his clothes.

While Spencer was in Virginia in April 2010, he said Stewart went to Michigan to kill his wife.

He knew what was going to happen, and he testified Stewart called him when it was done.

"'OK dude, it's done,'" Spencer told the packed courtroom that Stewart told him. "I was kind of shocked to hear that. I said, "What happened?" And he said that he called the Venus' parents' house in Michigan and said that he was the mail man had a package for her. He jumped out and he said that there was a scream. She only screamed once [he said]. She tried putting up a fight, but he was able to get her in a headlock and a drop of blood came from her nose."

Since Spencer helped the prosecution's case, he was sentenced under a plea deal to one year in county jail. That year that would have been up in July.

"I mean, he has a life now he can enjoy the sunshine, my aunt can't. He helped Doug and he gets away with it, basically. Not even a full year in jail!  He should have gone to prison just like Doug," said Venus' niece Morris.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough told 24 Hour News 8 over the phone on Sunday that the likely reason Spencer is getting out early is that it is jail policy to give inmates five days off for every month of good behavior, and as a jail trustee, which Spencer is, he would get more time than that.

McDonough said he understands Venus' family is upset with the sentence and that he's sympathetic.

He said Spencer's plea deal was the hardest decision he's ever made as prosecutor, but he thinks the sentence fit Spencer's crime. He also said he's confident no one in law enforcement will have a problem with Spencer again.

He also said he does not recommend that any other jurisdiction prosecute Spencer. Since Spencer's crimes crossed state lines, he could have been prosecuted federally and/or in Virginia for his role in the murder. 

Venus' family members said the sentence is not fair to them, not fair to Venus and especially not fair to the two children who Venus left behind.

"[Venus' daughter] came home from school and said, 'Who's going to go with me? My mommy's dead and my daddy's in prison,'" said Hopkins.

Venus' parents have filed civil suits against both Spencer and Stewart for their roles in Venus' death.