He admitted to killing his Realtor
MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A Muskegon area man accused of shooting and killing a real estate agent was in court Tuesday.
Robert Johnson pleaded guilty to open murder in Muskegon Circuit Court. That leaves it up to the judge whether the crime constitutes first or second degree murder.
Johnson walked into Troy Vanderstelt's Roosevelt Park office in July of 2008. Johnson said he was angry, and went in to scare Vanderstelt, but wound up shooting and killing him instead.
On Tuesday, the judge began hearing testimony, trying to decide whether the murder was premeditated.
It was emotional day in court, where loved ones of the victim not only had to deal with the confession from the suspect, but also having to relive what happened the day Vanderstelt was killed in his own office.
Vanderstelt left his house on the morning of July 1st to go into the office. About fifteen minutes later, his wife's phone rang.
"I thought it was Troy, it came up Nexes, and I said, 'hey baby, you miss me already," said Bridget Vanderstelt, the victim's wife. "She said Troy's been shot."
Bridget spoke Tuesday about the day her husband was killed at the hands of an angry customer.
Police say Johnson plotted the murder out for weeks before hand, even telling his own family members of his plan, but he wasn't thought to be a threat.
On Tuesday, Johnson told a judge that he was guilty of murder, but whether he will be convicted of first or second degree murder is a question that will have to be answered by a judge.
Prosecutors say the murder was all about money, more specifically losing money in the real estate market. They say that Johnson simmered for years over what he thought was a bad deal with Nexes Realtor Vanderstelt over the sale of his old home and the purchase of a new one.
On Tuesday, court testimony indicated that Johnson was initially happy with the deal, then weeks later started leaving threatening voice-mails with his Realtor.
"I remember Troy having me listen to it, and I was stunned because Mr. Johnson was so happy at the closing and I met him there and I was like this is that older gentleman, nice guy, I met at Nexes Title, and he said yes," said Bridget Vanderstelt.
The hearing to determine whether Johnson will be convicted of first or second degree murder is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.
