Скачать или смотреть Michigan State Police take over investigation in year-old 'driveway ambush' murder

An Otsego County mother is fighting to get a break in the case for her son's unsolved murder a year ago.

According to the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Dean Padgett was killed in his driveway September 25th, 2024.

After our interview with Bobbie Hulburt, the mother of Padgett, earlier this week, she said she got a call from the Otsego County Sheriff's Office, who is investigating Padgett's murder. As of Wednesday, Padgett's case was transferred to Michigan State Police.

“Our first initial thought was maybe they had a suspect, but ultimately it is good news,” said Hulburt. “They're gonna take and go over everything from the beginning to the end and start their investigation over."

Hulburt said it was good news to share as Padgett's friends and family gathered Thursday at the Otsego County courthouse lawn to honor his memory.

He just had a big heart and he never judged me. He was always there, it was like having a brother that wasn't my actual blood brother.
Padgett's best friend Brad Price said he spoke to Padgett the night before he died. They talked about getting together soon.

“I got a phone call and I was standing in my driveway. I just remember someone telling me and I dropped my phone and my phone had hit the ground and it broke the screen and I just at the time I couldn't believe it,” said Price.

Hulburt dubbed Price her "bonus child". Price said since his friend's death, he's taken on the role of looking after Padgett's mother, sister and his five-year-old daughter. He said it's still hard for his daughter to understand that her dad is gone.

“She told me the other day, ‘Oh, I just miss my daddy.’ I said ‘Yea that's hard, baby.’ Then she kind of goes on about how she likes painting pictures and I asked her, ‘What do you like painting?’ and she said, ‘I like painting pictures of my daddy."

It's the little things from loved ones like the pictures and stories that Hulburt said help keep her son's memory alive. Especially on days when it feels heavy to carry on her own.

“I personally have not posted on Facebook today. I haven't been able to bring myself to it," said Hulburt. "But, I will. It was emotional enough today just waking up and getting out of bed. It's the last thing I wanted to do today, but I knew I had to."

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