Man charged in death of veterans advocate Gary Lillie is released on bond

By Lee Higgins Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Sun, Aug 7, 2011 : 8:17 a.m.

A man investigators said was drunken driving when he struck and killed a pedestrian Thursday in Scio Township has been released from the Washtenaw County Jail after posting bond Saturday afternoon, jail officials said Sunday morning.

Kevin Ronald Warren, 43, of Scio Township, who is charged with operating while intoxicated causing death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death, paid $2,500 to get out.

He is accused in the death of 70-year-old Gary Lillie of Scio Township, a real estate agent, advocate for veterans and host of a weekly AM broadcast program called Veterans Radio.

During Warren's arraignment Saturday, Magistrate Thomas Truesdell set bond at $25,000, with the right to post 10 percent, noting that Warren has no criminal record.

Veterans advocate Gary Lillie was killed Thursday night while walking in Scio Township.

courtesy photo

Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies said Warren was traveling east on Marshall Road in a sport utility vehicle about 11:30 p.m. Thursday when he struck and killed Lillie who was walking in the same direction. Lillie was thrown into a ditch.

Investigators said Warren left the scene and went home. AFter he arrived at home, he called 911 and then returned to the scene of the accident near Baker Road, where witnesses were with Lillie.

Warren was arrested and given a preliminary breath test, which he failed, investigators said. Deputies have not released results of that test or any other tests administered to determine Warren's blood-alcohol level.

If convicted, Warren faces a maximum of 15 years in prison on each felony charge. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16.

(This story has been revised to correct information regarding the arrest of the suspect.)