Suvechha Sarkar
Sheila Kay Bonge was a dutiful mother, a beloved sister, and a proud grandmother. However, her beautiful life came to a sudden halt in December 2017, when she was killed in Coopersville, Michigan. The investigation uncovered a string of tumultuous relationships and the devastating consequences of unresolved conflict. The episode titled, ‘Game of Homes’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fear Thy Neighbor’ sheds light on the fatal encounter that led to her untimely demise. It also features interviews with her loved ones, neighbors, and an official who was closely involved with the case.
Sheila Bonge’s Remains Were Found Two Days After She Disappeared
Charles Alvin Luke and Lellevene Horton Luke were overjoyed when they welcomed Sheila Kay Luke into their lives on October 29, 1958. She grew up in a house filled with the love and support of her parents. She belonged to a large family and had several siblings, but she was particularly close to her sister, Val Flaherty. Sheila’s loved ones often described her as someone who always spoke her mind and was selfless. She completed her education at Coopersville High School before embarking on her professional path. For multiple years, Sheila thrived as a certified Nurse’s Aid at Fountain View Estates, before taking a step back due to her health. In her personal life, she felt blessed when she embraced motherhood with the birth of her children, Jane Luke, Tony Music, Joshua Ezinga, Charles, Sandra, and Lindsey Bonge.
Sheila’s life was further fulfilled in the presence of her grandchildren. By the time she reached the age of 59, she had found love in her fiancé, Wayne Homan. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening. She loved her two-acre property located at 104th Avenue in Crockery Township, in Coopersville, Michigan. Sadly, Sheila had conflicts with her neighbors regarding her property since around 2015. Amid everything, her family remained her place of solace. Things took a dark turn on December 27, 2017, when her sister, Val, and her daughter, Jane, failed to contact her. Sheila’s friend, Guy McDonnell, and Jane went to her residence to check for her. They discovered that Sheila’s snowblower was in the driveway. Guy and Jane found Sheila’s front door to be unlocked and her car keys and cellphone inside the house.
So, Jane immediately called 911 to report her missing. When officials questioned the neighbors about the whereabouts of the 59-year-old, they informed them that she was last seen on December 26, 2017, blowing snow from the driveway. The authorities reportedly conducted a thorough search alongside another search party, which ultimately discovered her remains on December 28, 2017, in a wooded location close to her home. Detectives noted that she had passed away from a single gunshot wound to the back of her head. She had no clothing items on her, and her remains were covered with snow. According to reports, Sheila was just wearing her white necklace, earrings, lip ring, and white hair tie. The autopsy determined that she was shot with a .22 caliber firearm, and her cause of death was due to the fatal gunshot wound.
The Killer’s Confession Brought a Fatal Neighborhood Conflict to Light
At the beginning of the missing person investigation, officials reportedly learned that Sheila was quite close to her long-term neighbors, Wendell Earl Popejoy and his partner, Rhonda Clark. However, that changed with the arrival of their new neighbors, Mark and Beth Meurer. According to reports, Mark and Beth had told Sheila that she couldn’t use the driveway easement that went past their and Wendell’s home. However, Sheila allegedly asserted that it belonged to her. Investigative reports indicate that it led to the beginning of a prolonged feud between Sheila and her neighbors in 2015. By 2017, there were more than two dozen police reports made by the Meurer family and Wendell’s family as well. However, none of them resulted in any official charges.
According to court records, the other two families and Sheila had sought protection orders against each other, but the judge denied all of them. Witness reports suggest that Sheila had once claimed that Rhonda had killed a rabbit and disposed of it in front of her home. In one instance, Beth alleged that her chickens were killed, which she suspected was done by Sheila. As per police reports, Mark told the officials that Sheila allegedly bullied his family and also Wendell’s. He also claimed that both families were afraid of what she would do. None of these allegations was ever substantiated or resulted in criminal charges. The case changed when investigators discovered Sheila’s remains behind Wendell’s home. He was taken into custody on December 29, 2017, and indicted on murder and other felony firearm charges.
During his questioning, Wendell initially claimed not to have any involvement. According to police records, shortly after, he confessed that he had decided to kill Sheila when she was allegedly using the snowblower towards his house. In his statements, he claimed that he “snapped” and had shot her in the back of her head. Court records state that he confessed that since Sheila was using the snowblower during that time, she couldn’t hear him approaching from behind. He admitted to then removing her clothes, and putting them in a burn barrel before placing her remains on a sled and disposing of it. Wendell confessed to throwing the murder weapon off the bridge into the river. Officials’ reports state that he admitted to acting entirely alone.
Wendell Popejoy is Serving His Sentence at a State Prison Facility Today
The jury trial of Wendell commenced in October 2018, during which the prosecution claimed that the murder was premeditated. They reportedly emphasized the autopsy finding that Sheila was shot from behind when she was completely unaware. According to court records, the prosecution pointed out Wendell’s confession, where he had mentioned burning her clothes and disposing of her remains and the murder weapon. They further put forth their long history of property disputes. On the other hand, although the defense acknowledged that Wendell had shot Sheila, they claimed that it was not premeditated first-degree murder. They contended that he had killed Sheila in a moment of passion, allegedly triggered by her harassment.
Wendell was found guilty of first-degree murder (premeditated) and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony on October 15, 2018. Ultimately, on November 5, 2018, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for murder and a mandatory 2 years in prison for the felony firearm charge, to be served consecutively. Wendell had later appealed his convictions on the ground that the trial court should have instructed the jurors on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, committed in the heat of passion, so that they could consider it as an alternative to first-degree murder. However, the Appellate Court determined that the evidence did not support that claim and affirmed his convictions on April 30, 2020. Currently, Wendell is incarcerated at the Carson City Correctional Facility in Carson City, Michigan.
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