WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The woman charged in the double murder of a foster family in Washtenaw County appeared in court on Tuesday and requested a new attorney from the public defender’s office.
Shuvonne Vinson, along with Gregory Callhan and Keith Finley, were charged in connection with the murder of Jennifer Bernhard, 48, and Stevie Smith, 74, and the attempted murder of Jeffrey Bernhard on Nollar Bend Road in Northfield Township on Jan. 1, 2025.
A motion was filed to have Vinson’s current attorney removed from her case due to an “attorney-client breakdown of communication.”
During court, her current attorney said that he no longer feels like he can effectively communicate with Vinson to help her with the case.
When Washtenaw County Judge Cedric Simpson asked Vinson if this is what she also desired, she said the following:
“Yes, I do. I need my own private attorney for this matter pertaining to what’s going on about my child,” said Vinson. And I definitely stand tall for my baby, so I need for him to withdraw, and I need to have my own attorney."
You can watch the full hearing in the video at the top of this article.
A new attorney from the public defender’s office will represent Vinson moving forward. Due to this change, her preliminary examination was adjourned to Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.
Here is a statement from Jeffrey Bernhard, the foster father who was injured in the attack:
I know the court proceedings are going to take a while, but I am confident in the prosecutor’s office and in the Northfield Township Police Department. They have done an outstanding job and I really believe justice will be served.
Jeffrey Bernhard
Previous coverage: ‘Deserve to die’: Woman charged in Washtenaw County double murder, kidnapping goes off during court
What to know about the case
Vinson is being held at the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.
On April 16, Washtenaw County Judge Cedric Simpson ruled there was enough evidence for Callhan and Finley to stand trial. A pretrial date was set for June 25.
Vinson, Callhan, and Finley are facing the following charges and face the possibility of life in prison.
- 2 counts of open murder.
- 1 count of assault with intent to murder.
- 1 count of home invasion in the first degree.
- 2 counts of kidnapping -- child enticement.
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit murder.
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping -- child enticement.
- 1 count of conspiracy to commit home invasion in the first degree.
- 1 count of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent.
- 1 count of stolen property -- receiving and concealing a motor vehicle.
- 1 count of felony firearm.
Related: Video creates clearer timeline of what happened after foster family murder in Washtenaw County
Vinson is also facing the following seven charges:
- 4 counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer.
- 1 count of carrying a concealed weapon.
- 1 count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
- 1 count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
During the preliminary examinations of Callhan and Finley, Jeffrey Bernhard testified about what happened the night of the attack.
Read more: Man says trio burst into his Washtenaw County home, shot him, killed his wife, kidnapped daughters
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