A Parrot Really Helped Convict a Woman of Murdering Her Husband

Weeks after the murder, the victim's parrot could be heard repeating the phrase, "Don't f*cking shoot."

african grey parrot
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Image via Getty/Marji Lang/LightRocket

african grey parrot

A Michigan jury has convicted a woman of first-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband. Sounds like your average episode of Snapped, right? Not quite. The crime was apparently witnessed by the man's pet parrot, which has been heard repeating the phrase, "Don't fucking shoot."

According to USA Today, the jury deliberated for eight hours Wednesday before finding 49-year-old Glenna Duram guilty of shooting 46-year-old Martin Duram five times in May 2015. In a report obtained by local outlet WOOD TV8, police indicated that they first thought the incident was a double-homicide, after finding Glenna in the home with a gunshot wound to the head. An hour had passed before they realized she was still alive. She later became a suspect in a failed murder-suicide, after police found three suicide notes: one to Glenna's ex-husband and one to each of her children. She later claimed she didn't remember writing the letters, but police said a handwriting analysis showed her penmanship was a match. 

In an interview with WOOD TV8, Martin Duram's parents said they believed the bird was a witness. "That bird picks up everything and anything, and it's got the filthiest mouth around," Martin Duram's mom, Lillian, said.

Glenna denied killing her husband in an interview with police after she recovered, saying she didn't remember anything until she woke up in the hospital.

Police records listed financial issues, gambling problems, and a troubled marriage as possible motives. 

Glenna Duram is set to be sentenced on Aug. 28 for murder and a felony firearm charge.

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