Susan Wade held without bond after being charged with stabbing death of elderly father
Susan Wade referred to Ronald Mason as “Daddy” several times during her arraignment Monday afternoon.
Susan Wade
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
She told court officials her adoptive father was in charge of paying her rent, keeping track of her savings account and keeping tabs on the amount of money she received as social assistance from the government.
Wade - described by family as severely mentally ill - is accused of stabbing that same man between 25 and 30 times while he slept early Saturday morning in his Ann Arbor home.
Wade was officially charged with one count of open murder Monday afternoon during an arraignment at the Washtenaw County Jail.
Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Dianna Collins told Magistrate Thomas Truesdell that Wade waited until Mason was asleep in his bed and then stabbed the 86-year-old Ann Arbor man repeatedly, leaving him to bleed to death.
“She turned the fan on, found the longest kitchen knife she could find, entered after midnight and stabbed him 25 to 30 times,” Collins said.
Collins said Wade returned to the bedroom later on that morning and thought she saw Mason moving. That prompted her to resume the attack, Collins said.
Given the information from Collins, Truesdell ruled Wade, 48, would be held without bond in the Washtenaw County Jail while her case progresses.
Kristine Crossman, Wade’s daughter, told AnnArbor.com on Sunday that Wade is schizophrenic and has a history of drug abuse. Crossman said Wade had been staying with Mason for a few days before the alleged murder.
Crossman visited the home on Saturday, and learned that her grandfather - who had raised her - was dead inside. Crossman also said Wade was in the home when she arrived, and that Wade had barricaded all the doors and windows to the home in the 1700 block of Covington Drive before she allowed Crossman inside and led her to Mason.
It's the first reported homicide in the city of Ann Arbor since Kwame Burrell strangled his girlfriend to death in January 2009. Burrell was sentenced to 26 to 50 years in prison in that case.
Truesdell appointed the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office to represent Wade. She’s scheduled to be back in court at 8:30 a.m. June 21 for a preliminary exam.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
danielle
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Thank you for everyone commenting about ron masons death. there will be a memorial service sometime in august and obituary around the first week of july. more information will be posted when we know more about the dates. thank you. -The Mason and Crossman families.
Sharon L. Ralston
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
I send my deepest sympathy to Krissy, Danielle, and their families. I am praying for their strength and that they will feel God's peace. I knew Ron, Josephine, Susan, her former husand, and Krissy for about 16 years. The Lord only knows what made Susan snap. He may not answer our prayers as we want, but He will answer in His own way and in His own time. I hope that you will all pray for Susan, that she will receive the medications and help that she needs.
Sharon L. Ralston
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
Danielle, I also pray that Susan is never free again. I live in Florida practically full time now but visit family in Michigan as often as possible. I'm sorry that I won't be able to be up there in August for Ron's memorial service. I will be in the Detroit area the week of July 22 then again the last week of September. I last saw Ron and Susan just before Christmas. I still can hardly believe this awful tragedy. I called the drugstore where he delivered the prescriptions last Thursday and talked to Jill to see if they knew there what Ron's funeral arrangements were. She told me no but to call back early this week. But then I read your postings in this blog. I always asked Ron how his son was doing and he was so proud of your dad and spoke adoringly of him and his grand kids. Josephine did the same. My heart has broken with yours. Know that my family all sends their love and best wishes to your family and Krissy.
danielle
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
My father michael and I have posted sometime to info you what is going on. Thank you for your prayers and support. We pray that Susan gets the help she needs as well and is never free again.
anti-thug
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
sometimes ANN aRBOR SUMMERTIMEs can get pretty violent but even all danger around we forget that things like this often happen behind doors.
JanetS
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
I know Ron Mason - he was a wonderful man. This is so tragic and shocking. I want to send flowers to the funeral home. Does anybody know yet where Ron is going to be laid out? If so, please post the funeral home and its location.
danielle
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 4:10 a.m.
My grandpa was the best man I knew. he is not having a a funeral. he is being creamated and his ashes will be spread with my grandma..his wife's ashefs. Me and my father..Ron son will be in Michigan next week. thank you for your support and I wish there was somewhere for you to send them but there is not. all we need is prayers me my father and my krissy. my family is broken hearted. we lost a great man. and my aunt will get what she deserves. prayer is all we need. s is all I ask got
BhavanaJagat
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
CRIME AND HEALTH : We continue to report incidents as Crime and fail to recognize the relationship between health and crime. Health speaks about the well-being of a person and criminal behavior described in acts of crime reveals an aspect of health and well-being that gets ignored. Now, the community is left with no choice other than that of punishing the person who may have caused a death on account of her illness. Would it not be reasonable to treat this person adequately and avoided this criminal act that needs very expensive fix? What is that we have missed? The problem is not that of a lack of 'sanity'. The problem is that of Spiritual Well-being that establishes peace, harmony, and tranquility in a person's life, in the environment and in the community where the person exists.
RJA
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 3:47 a.m.
Still don't know what to say, other than sad and tragic. My heart goes out to Kristine Crossman and family.
KINGofSKA
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 2:21 a.m.
I don't know the man, and I'm not saying he's not capable, but was there really no other option to house her with anyone else?
danielle
Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
He loved his daughter...and he ment everything to her. he was being a father cause she didn't want to be alone. she had her own place but was visiting. I'm not sticking up for my aunt but we never would of thought this would everhappen. my aunt was sick but she loved that man and I don't understand. we didn't have much family...and we stuck together. just like we will now. my aunt us where she needs to be and my grandpa is in heaven with my grandma.
Chase Ingersoll
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 1:55 a.m.
The commentary regarding the need or problems with mental institutions causes me to recall: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenhan_experiment I am also struck by our need to read, a media that tends to lead, with things that bleed. As horrible as this is, let's not forget to be thankful that we live in Ann Arbor, where there is virtually no risk of being randomly murdered.
Michigan Reader
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 9:36 p.m.
@Chase Ingersoll--It's more appropriate to say a very LOW risk of being randomly murdered. Wait, that's what you said, virtually no risk.
anti-thug
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
ever heard of john Norman Collins? he was serial killer and he didn't if victim lived in ypsi or Ann Arbor, he stroke random. then all random non fatal knife attacks at Ann Arbors and serial arsonist ....i think Ann Arbor can sometime be a heaven for random crime.
mjd12
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
I feel for the family. However, people with severe mental illness are not followed by CSTS or other agencies. Often I have, through personal experience, people with such disorders cause severe problems for individuals in their immediate control. TOO BAD!
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
So if there're no more facilities for the (dangerous) mentally ill, where will the court put Ms. Wade? Some expenses of large societies cannot be avoided and "charity from the super rich" isn't working out all that well (just like "trickle down wealth" didn't work out). See, we're inextricably bound to "some" socialist programs where the expense is shared by every "producer" regardless of economic status. (Making the neocon philosophy a delusional and dangerous failure.) But wait: maybe work prisons should be re-instated; we can put convicted killer schizophrenics to work on roads and bridges.
Michigan Reader
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 9:32 p.m.
@Tru2Blu76--She will either go to a state prison, or if she's found insane at the time of the crime, she will go to the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry.
jns131
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
That is why the Stadium Bridge is being rebuilt.
Tesla
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
I'm confused by this statement that this is the first reported Homicide in A2 since 2009. I can quote you at least two cases of vehicular homicide one being the case in Dexter with the veteran that got hit and killed walking along the roadway. A Homicide is causing someones death, a "Murder" is causing it intentionally. What gives?
Matt Cooper
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
Dexter is not Ann Arbor.
HereAndThere
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 10:20 p.m.
Mr. Mason waited on me once at the prescription shop. Just as I was about ready to tell him that I liked his sweater, he told my son that he liked his hat. I remember him as being especially kind. I was very sad to hear about this.
Michael
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
I knew this family personally. It saddens me to know that this tragedy has befallen Mr.Mason and especially his granddaughter Krissy. He was a big part of her life and to see him that way must have broken her heart. My sincere condolences to the family...
JanetS
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
Michael, I knew Ron & Josephine. This is so sad and I keep wondering WHY did this happen. If you know where Ron is being laid out at, please post it as I want to send flowers and also visit the funeral home. Thanks, Jant
leezee
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 10:11 p.m.
I have to wonder how many times and how many people said, " Oh, she would never hurt anyone.". I feel for those who are mentally ill, but they need to be monitored much more closely. Family members just aren't equipped to deal with this. He sounds like a wonderful father, neighbor and friend. My thoughts are with those who loved him.
julieswhimsies
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Just WHERE are the mentally ill supposed to be monitored? It is next to impossible to find an open bed on any given day, ANYWHERE in this County. As I've said many times the gargantuan U of M Hospitals have only 20 beds for the mentally ill. The Schizophrenics need extra special care, as they often refuse or forget to take their meds.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
Tragic, on so many different levels. I don't know what to say.
jns131
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
I so totally agree. At first i thought I was hearing about an update on Lizzie Bordon. Holy smokes. Did not expect this. Good luck to the family.
seldon
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 8:40 p.m.
Craig Lounsbury's comment is well worth looking at, and thinking about. Some people are not safe to mainstream into the community, but we as a society have closed the mental hospitals and are doing it anyway.
Carole
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 10:33 p.m.
And, the closing of the hospitals forced many of the patients to live on the streets. Unfortunate all the way around.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
And the University of Michigan has only 20 Psychiatric beds, and they're wondering what to do with the now empty Mott's hospital?!!!
Mark Hergott
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 8:26 p.m.
This is awful. An eighty six year old man should not be expected to take care of anyone. This case exposes deep problems with our society.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
A sad story all the way around. There was a time many years ago when the state had numerous "mental hospitals" where folks with severe mental illness were "housed".
shepard145
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
Amusing that the liberals who criticized psych hospitals got their wish of FREEDOM FOR ALL MENTAL PATIENTS after politicians discovered this new wave of psychological care WAS CHEATER. The hospitals were closed and the patients left in the care of the street. LOL Same happened to orphanages - now taxpayers are trapped in an endless cycle engineered by democrats to create a permanent voting block by funding the poor producing children in order to collect checks and support their jobless "lifestyle". With orphanages, we could support the children and let the irresponsible parents support themselves.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
I would disagree that they were "deeply" flawed or "extremely" controversial. I would buy flawed and somewhat controversial.
Tesla
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
Yeah the Republicans saw to that.
Sandra Samons
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
It's true that the old mental hospitals were relics of the past and deeply flawed, but we went from one extreme to the other by closing them w/o creating any intermediate alternative. There really are people who are too chronically disturbed to be manageable, able to live lives that are safe for themselves or others, who need more custodial care than a family should be expected to provide. So we wait for them to die on the street or commit a crime so we can lock them up as criminals. This is indeed sad.
chubbybunny
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
Not sure that she should be housed in a hospital, but she definitely could have used some out-patient care. The hospitals you seem to refer to were extremely controversial in the past. And, people were housed that may not have had psychological problems.
CincoDeMayo
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 7:44 p.m.
This is sad news. I'm sure there's not much I can say to make anyone feel better, but my heart goes out to the family.
ypsicat
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Tragic.