Michigan Woman Kills Husband In Front Of Talking Parrot, Gets Life In Prison

A Michigan woman who murdered her husband in front of their talking parrot was sentenced to life in prison without parole Monday, reported Detroit NBC-affiliate WDIV Tuesday.

Glenna Duram, 49, was tried in Newaygo County Court and sentenced to life in prison without parole. In May 2015, she shot her husband, Martin Duram, 45, five times. The murder occurred in their Sand Lake home. Prosecutors said Glenna Duram obtained and survived a bullet wound to the head in what appeared to be a suicide attempt. She was found guilty of first-degree murder and felony firearm charge in July.

Following Martin Duram’s death, his ex-wife Christina Keller, took custody of the couple’s pet bird, an African gray parrot named Bud. In the weeks following Martin’s death, Bud repeated what sounded like an argument between a male and a female. Family members took a video weeks after the incident, recording the bird saying, “Don’t f------ shoot.”

Keller was the one who originally believed Bud was repeating Martin and Glenna’s final argument before his death.

“I think it’s a piece of the puzzle. I think it’s possible last words. I truly believe, with all my heart, most of that comes from that night,” Keller said on “As It Happens” June 2016. “To listen to the whole two-minute rant and to know Marty, and to know Glenna, and to know the things that they would say to each other, it’s haunting.”

Martin Duram’s parents also said it was possible the bird heard the couple’s final argument and was repeating it.

“I personally think he was there, and he remembers it and he was saying it,” Duram’s father, Charles, said to Grand Rapids NBC-affiliate WOOD June 2016.

“That bird picks up everything and anything, and it’s got the filthiest mouth around,” Duram’s mother, Lillian, told WOOD.

Authorities originally thought both Martin and Glenna were shot by the same attacker, but after further investigation, they determined Glenna Duram was a possible suspect in her husband’s death. The couple was reportedly having money and gambling issues at the time of Martin’s murder.

Glenna was ultimately found guilty of murdering Martin and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Despite the prosecution saying the bird was not ruled out as evidence, it was not used in court.