Bio

Theodore Paul Wafer was born in 1959 and grew up in the Detroit area. He came from a large family and was known to enjoy spending time outdoors. He had a simple upbringing and lived in the same community for many years. Theodore worked various jobs throughout his life, including a position as an airport maintenance worker.

As a young man, Wafer reportedly enjoyed activities such as biking and going out with friends. He was not known for being violent. An ex-girlfriend described him as someone who drank heavily but was never aggressive. He was conscious of limitations such as not driving after drinking and preferred to take a taxi or bike to local bars instead.

Wafer obtained his home in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, from family when a relative passed away. He moved into that house in 1994 and lived there since then. His living space was a small corner lot located just north of Detroit.

Wafer's life before the events that would later define him was mostly unremarkable, spent working and maintaining personal relationships in a typical suburban setting. It was this same home that would later become the scene of a tragic incident that gained widespread attention.

Murder Story

On November 2, 2013, Renisha McBride, a 19-year-old woman, crashed her car in Detroit, Michigan. After the accident, she walked about a mile to Dearborn Heights, where Theodore Wafer lived. McBride knocked on the windows and door of Wafer's house around 4:42 a.m.

Wafer opened his front door and fired a shotgun at McBride, hitting her in the face. He later claimed that he thought someone was breaking into his home and that the shooting was an accident. He had called 911 shortly after the incident to report that he had shot someone.

McBride was found lying on the porch when police arrived. An autopsy revealed that she had a high blood-alcohol level and had also used marijuana.

Following the shooting, Wafer was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and using a firearm during a felony. The prosecution argued that he acted recklessly. During the trial, Wafer's defense claimed he feared for his life. However, the jury found him guilty of all charges on August 7, 2014.

On September 3, 2014, he was sentenced to 17 to 32 years in prison, which included a mandatory two-year term for the firearms charge. The case sparked protests and discussions about racial profiling, as McBride was Black and Wafer was white.