3 Detroiters charged in fatal shooting of trial witness, prosecutor says

Three Detroiters have been charged in the October 2025 murder of a man who was set to be a witness in an upcoming trial, Wayne County prosecutors said. 

Bekelba Migel Holland, 52, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, witness intimidation, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon and four counts of felony firearm.

Tycie Denise Parham, 48, and Gerald Keith Towns, 62, are both charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, witness intimidation and conspiracy to commit witness intimidation. 

Towns is currently awaiting a June trial on charges of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and five counts of felony firearm. 

Robert Harbin, 42, of Detroit, was to be a witness in Towns' trial before he was murdered last October, according to prosecutors. 

Prosecutors accuse Holland of following Harbin to his home in the 18700 block of Kelly Road on Oct. 14, 2025, and firing a handgun several times into Harbin's vehicle before leaving the area. When officers arrived at the home, they found Harbin in the driver's seat of his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. Harbin died at the scene. 

Prosecutors allege Parham and Towns aided and abetted Holland in the shooting and that Parham and Harbin have a child in common. 

"Almost nothing is more serious than the murder of a witness. Nothing raises the hackles of a prosecutor more. In this case, it is alleged that these defendants thought the road to acquittal was the elimination of a witness. Now they find themselves charged with murder. This office will be extremely aggressive in making sure these defendants are brought to justice for this brutal behavior," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. 

Parham was arraigned on Thursday and remanded to jail. She has a probable cause conference on April 10, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for April 17. 

Towns is expected to be arraigned on Friday. An arraignment has not yet been set for Holland, prosecutors said.