Detroit man’s fight for freedom: Key hearing set in 2008 firefighter death case

DETROIT – A key hearing next week could determine freedom for Mario Willis, who has spent 16 years in prison for a fatal fire that killed a Detroit firefighter, a conviction his supporters say was built on changing testimony and missing evidence.

Willis was convicted of second-degree murder and arranging an arson that killed Detroit firefighter Walter Harris, a beloved 17-year veteran of the force and father of six.

“I didn’t want to be one of those mothers saying, ‘Oh my child didn’t do this,’” said Maxine Willis, Mario’s mother. “I knew it was going to take evidence and facts to bring Mario home.”

For more than a decade, Maxine Willis has transformed the lower level of her home into what she calls her “law firm,” meticulously compiling evidence and testimony to support her son’s claim of innocence.

The case has drawn attention from journalists and investigators who say key aspects of the prosecution’s theory don’t add up.

The fire was initially attributed to handyman Darian Dove, who admitted to starting a fire to keep warm. Dove later changed his story, claiming Willis paid him to burn the building for insurance money — a statement he later recanted, saying he had lied under pressure from detectives.

Several factors have emerged that challenge the prosecution’s case:

• Willis didn’t have the property insured against fire, suggesting no financial motive.
• Dove called 911 to report the fire, an unusual action for an arsonist.
• Newly discovered video shows Willis being interviewed by the arson team months before trial, contradicting claims he didn’t provide an alibi.

However, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office maintains its position.

In a statement saying, “This case was tried by a jury that convicted the defendant. That conviction was affirmed by the appellate courts. The Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed the case and found no support for the defendant’s current claim of innocence. WCPO is fully prepared for the evidentiary hearing before Judge Van Houten. Our appellate attorneys will argue the case based upon their exhaustive review of the defendant’s claims, which we assert have little or no merit.”

In 2023, retired Local 4 news anchor Devin Scillian covered the case and sat down with Maxine Willis and Bill Proctor, a longtime reporter who now works on innocence appeals.

“This is the first time that we will be able to present factual evidence to show Mario’s innocence,” Maxine Willis said. “At the end of the day, we know a first responder lost his life; however, the truth must come out.”

The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center and is expected to last several days.