Four charged in Van Buren County cold case

VAN BUREN COUNTY — Four of the five people charged in an 11-year-old murder case in southwest Michigan have faced a judge for the first time. Police arrested Shevolier Gill, Ivory Shaver, Scottie Shaver and Ed Foster last November for the murder of Deborah Boothby in Van Buren County in 1998. Investigators say the suspects beat Boothby to death and then ran her over twice on Blue Star Highway to try and stage a hit-and-run crash. Adrienne Burnette admitted to her role in the killing and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in November. She testified against the other suspects in court Thursday. The other suspects all face charges of first-degree murder.