DETROIT – More than two decades after Michael LeSean Stokes was killed on Detroit’s east side, his family is making a renewed push for answers — hoping someone who saw or heard something back in 2004 will finally come forward.
Michael Stokes was 35 when he was killed on June 20, 2004, near East Warren Ave. and Conner. His homicide remains open and unsolved, according to Detroit Police.
His daughter, Doneicia Stokes, was only 8 years old when her father died. Now 31, she says the unanswered questions have haunted not only her, but her family for over two decades.
“It literally keeps me up at night, honestly,” she said. “We just miss him so, so much.”
According to the Detroit Police Department, officers responded to the area of Conner and East Warren for a reported shooting that day. When officers arrived, they found Stokes injured.
Emergency responders rushed Stokes to St. John’s Hospital, but he was pronounced dead.
Investigators learned that before the shooting, Stokes had been involved in an argument and physical altercation with an unknown suspect. Unfortunately, police said that suspect fled the area before officers arrived.
Stokes said she has learned that her father had been returning clothing at a store in the strip mall early that afternoon when he was killed.
“As far as I know… he was shot and murdered on Father’s Day,” Stokes said. “He was returning some work clothes. There was a witness that said he saw my dad and someone going back and forth. There may have also been a woman there.”
She said it was a busy strip mall at the time and believes someone else may have witnessed what happened.
“There was plenty of people out there,” Doneicia said. “Someone knows something, you know they do.”
According to Stokes, her father’s chain was also taken. She said it had a Libra scale on it, which held special meaning for her mother because of her birthday.
“That chain was never found,” she said.
Stokes also said someone tried to take her father’s truck. From her understanding, her father threw the vehicle’s keys, and the person or people involved were unable to find them.
‘My dad was amazing’
The details surrounding her father’s death are difficult for Stokes to try to piece together because she was so young at the time. Her brother was 3. Her sister was 5.
“I was so young then, and I’m just learning a lot more now and trying to do my research and trying to get this case solved,” she said.
What she does remember clearly is the man her father was before his death.
“My dad was amazing,” Stokes said. “Unfortunately… I only had him for eight years, but I have so many great vivid memories of him.”
She remembers her father spending time in his room with his collections and happily recording his children with his large camcorder. She said he loved spending time with his family and was a great husband to her mother.
“He was an… amazing father to us,” Stokes said. “We didn’t understand what was happening then. We were just asking our mom, ‘When is our dad coming home?’ We didn’t understand. We were so young.”
‘I just want justice’
Now, more than 20 years later, Stokes said she especially misses his playful personality.
“His silly moments,” she said. “He was such a silly guy. He was so outgoing — the fun times we had playing in the yard — it’s just so much.”
“I just want justice for my family,” she added.
Detroit police are asking anyone with information about Michael Lesean Stokes’ death to call 313-596-2260, 1-800-SpeakUp or submit a tip through DetroitRewards.TV. You can remain anonymous.
“I just pray constantly that someone will speak up, submit an anonymous tip,” she said. “We love him and we’re going to continue to fight for him. And in the name of Jesus I pray that we get justice.”