ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — Two suspects charged in the killings of a Washtenaw County foster family are headed to circuit court.
Co-defendants Keith Finley and Gregory Callhan are accused of breaking into a Northfield Township home on New Years Day, robbery and kidnapping. They appeared in court for their preliminary exam.
Suspect Shuvonne Vinson is the alleged mastermind and the shooter of the three victims. She wasn't a part of this preliminary exam.
Previous coverage: 2 suspects in Northfield Township murders, kidnappings face judge on multiple charges, 3rd refuses arraignment
Jeffrey Bernhard testified first and had to relive the horror he experienced that night. He recalled three people breaking into his home, shooting him and fatally shooting his wife and father-in-law.
The suspects are accused of demanding cash, as well as kidnapping his biological daughter and foster daughter. Vinson is the biological mother of one of the girls.
"It's been OK (reliving what happened) simply because part of processing this, talking to a psychologist and so, I've been talking a lot about this over the last three and a half months," Bernhard told 7 News Detroit outside the courtroom.
Hear more from Jeffrey Bernhard in the video player below:
He told us he's bracing for a long haul knowing this was just a preliminary hearing. However, Bernhard said he's doing what's necessary to get justice for his family.
Northfield Township Police Sgt. James Basso testified, "When I asked if she said anything about killing or did she have the intent or wanted to kill them, he did tell me that she made statements that she was going there to kill them."
Bernhard recalled hearing his wife Jennifer's screams that night and said he knew she was dead the moment he looked at her after she was shot in the head.
His father-in-law, Stevie Ray Smith, was also shot and killed.
Bernhard was shot in his side and his face and lost sight in his right eye. He recalled waking up and managing to make it his neighbor's home for help.
Previous coverage: 'A night that changed everything': Northfield Twp. man recounts brutal New Year's Day murder and kidnapping
"There's some moments to relive that are hard, very hard when it comes to my wife and my daughter, the whole situation, but I understand that it has to be done to move forward," Bernhard said.
Officers testified to catching the suspects in Ypsilanti Township that evening. Investigators said they recovered Bernhard's biological 9-year-old daughter, as well as his foster daughter who were both physically unharmed.
Investigators said several weapons, as well as stolen phones, credit cards and jewelry belonging to the victims were recovered from the suspects' vehicle.
Vinson allegedly wired money from Berhnard's account to her son.
Previous coverage: 'I’m going to make it through this': Surviving Northfield Twp. victim alert, described as selfless
"I'm feeling very confident. I think there's a great team on the prosecution side. I can't say enough about the police investigations, the things that I'm aware of. I think they have done an outstanding job," Bernhard said.
"I'm learning some things myself today from the testimony and just very, very appreciative of our police."
The prosecutor said Vinson was not a part of this preliminary exam because she has a competency exam at the end of May.
