That charge is a far cry from the two charges of homicide leveled at Van Buren Hutchison for the brutal rape and murder of a Chicago Heights woman more than 17 years ago. The badly decomposed and nude body of then 25-year-old Jeanette Reeves was found in the Kalamazoo River in the Allegan State Game area, months after she vanished.

Hutchison agreed to the plea deal just before the second day of testimony began before Judge George Corsiglia. Instead of facing life in prison, the no contest plea means Hutchison could be out of jail in 3 to 5 years when he is sentenced on June 25^th.

-John McNeill, News Director, Midwest Communications of Michigan, Kalamazoo