Opinion ID: 2975056
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Riley’s Statement to the Police

Text: After he was taken into custody, Riley voluntarily told the police about the events surrounding Seaton’s death and answered questions. Detroit police officer Samuel Quick interviewed Riley and read Riley’s statements into the record at trial. Riley told Quick that he and Seaton were friends. Riley called Seaton on the morning of June 27, 1997—the day Seaton was murdered—to tell Seaton that he planned on stopping by Seaton’s apartment after taking care of some personal business. On his way to Seaton’s, Riley encountered David Ware, whom Riley had known for about month. Ware asked Riley where he was going. When Riley responded that he was headed to Seaton’s, Ware decided to accompany him. At Seaton’s apartment, Riley claims that Seaton and Ware engaged in sexual activity. The three men left at some point to buy alcohol, but returned immediately thereafter. Riley told the police that Ware asked to take a shower, which Seaton permitted, and then Seaton took his own shower, and came out of the bathroom nude. When Seaton was done showering, Riley went to use the bathroom. While he was in the bathroom, Riley heard a loud noise, “like someone had hit the floor.” Joint Appendix (“J.A.”) at 158. Riley came out of the bathroom to discover that Ware had Seaton in a “sleeper hold” on the floor and was choking him. Riley asked Ware “why was he doing that.” Id. at 160. According to Riley, Ware told him to shut up and asked where the duct tape was. Riley told the police that, “I told [Ware] I didn’t know what he was talking about.” Id. When Seaton lost consciousness, Ware taped Seaton’s arms and feet with duct tape and tied Seaton’s hands together with a telephone cord. After being bound, Seaton started to revive but Ware strangled him again, this time resulting in Seaton’s death. Riley further told the police that after Seaton had been subdued, a woman knocked on Seaton’s door asking to speak with him. Riley told the woman that Seaton was in the apartment but was not dressed. Riley also explained that after Ware strangled and tied up Seaton, Ware stacked some of Seaton’s personal belongings by the apartment door. Ware took Seaton’s turntable and VCR and Riley admitted to taking Seaton’s stereo mixer. Riley said that Ware attempted to steal Seaton’s car but was not able to get it to start. After that, Riley and Ware fled the scene by running down a nearby alley together, carrying the goods they had taken from Seaton’s apartment. When questioned by Officer Quick, Riley could not explain why he did not stop Ware from strangling Seaton, why he did not leave Seaton’s apartment when he realized that Ware intended to harm Seaton, or why he took Seaton’s stereo mixer from the apartment. No. 05-2559 Riley v. Berghuis Page 3