Teens Denied Bond For Throwing Rocks From Overpass That Killed Michigan Man

Five teenagers, who were arrested in connection with the death of a Michigan man last week caused by a rock thrown at him, were denied bail by a judge during their arraignment Tuesday.

The teens were charged as adults, with one of them, Kyle Anger, being accused of throwing the rock that hit the van. Anger is being held in jail while others are in juvenile detention.

Kenneth White was traveling home from work in Au Gres, Michigan, when he was knocked unconscious after an object hit him on Oct. 18. He was declared dead upon his arrival at the Hurley Medical Center in Flint.

According to MLive, charges of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and malicious destruction of property were leveled against Anger and two 16-year-olds — Mark Sekelsky and Mikadyn Payne — and two 15-year-olds — Alexzander Miller and Trevor Gray — all from Clio, Michigan.

The charges came following the days-long investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office in which it was also revealed that tires and an engine piston also were thrown from the overpass onto I-75, roughly three miles from where White was killed. Apart from that, at least 20 rocks were found on the interstate.

Reports also said the teens discussed the act before they started it and went to eat at a McDonald’s restaurant after throwing the items.

Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell also dismissed the idea that the incident was a prank. "I don't think anybody's laughing," Pickell tells told NBC affiliate WDIV-TV. "You make a bad decision; you could be spending the rest of your life in prison."

"It's just a sad situation that hopefully will be determined by the facts of the case," said Erwin Meiers, an attorney for Trevor Gray.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said the teenagers were denied bonds by the judge because it was a very serious incident and the judge thought bond was inappropriate. However, Leyton also said Michigan law did not call for first-degree murder charges in this case.

"While some may be saying well we want first-degree murder, I don't believe there was pre-mediation (to cause a death) here," he argued.

He told the People Magazine that White’s cause of death was noted as a homicide with blunt force trauma to the head and chest. There was a skull fracture and injury to the brain along with lacerations and abrasions to his head and face. White’s clavicle and upper ribs were also broken.

"I can't give them enough punishment," White's father, Kenny White, said, according to ABC News. "Even if they spend 30 years in prison, they get to wake up every single day. They still get phone calls from their parents. They still get visitors. My son don't get none of that no more."

Sekelsky's attorney, Frank Manley, said White's death was a tragedy but warned against a "mob mentality" and a "one-size-justice-fits-all" for the five defendants. If convicted, all five face up to life in prison, according to WXYZ.