Charlotte Woman Convicted in Decades-Old Murder Case

In a swift conclusion to a case that had remained unresolved for over two decades, a jury deliberated for just two hours before reaching a verdict in the trial of Beverly McCallum, now 63, for the murder of her husband nearly 22 years ago. McCallum was found guilty of second-degree murder and disinterment and mutilation of a body in connection to the death of Roberto Caraballo, whose charred remains were discovered in a metal footlocker near an Ottawa County blueberry field on May 8, 2002.

Shortly after the jury returned its verdict, Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd likened the case to a "made-for-TV movie," particularly emphasizing McCallum's attempt to explain the murder that "didn’t make any sense at all" during her testimony. Lloyd pointed out that McCallum's oldest daughter, Dineane Ducharme, and Ducharme's friend, Christopher McMillan, who had already been convicted in connection with Caraballo's death, played subordinate roles compared to McCallum.

McMillan, aged 45, testified that he, Beverly McCallum, and Dineane Ducharme had discussions about the murder of Roberto Caraballo, who was married to McCallum, several days prior to executing the plan in May 2002.

According to his testimony, McCallum pushed Caraballo down the basement stairs, where Ducharme struck him in the head with a hammer.

McMillan further testified that during the altercation, McCallum demanded the hammer from Ducharme, shouting, "give me the hammer, give me the hammer." McCallum then proceeded to strike her husband multiple times on the left side of his head with the hammer until it became lodged in Caraballo's skull.

A plastic bag was then placed over Caraballo's head, and a rope was tied around his throat until he ceased breathing. Later that day, the body was placed into a footlocker, transported to a remote location, dragged off a two-track road, and set ablaze with the aid of gasoline.

McCallum, now 63, is the final defendant to be prosecuted in a case referred to as the "Jack in the Box" murder, which remained unsolved until authorities received a tip in 2015, leading them to identify the burned remains found at the farm.

The remains remained unidentified until Ducharme, residing in Texas, reached out to the police in 2015 and implicated her mother. Subsequently, the investigation led authorities to another of McCallum's daughters and then to McMillan, who was residing in the Grand Rapids area, as well as a residence on Horatio Street in Charlotte. Investigators discovered traces of Caraballo's blood in the basement of the Charlotte house.

In 2019, McMillan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, receiving a sentence of 15 to 40 years in prison. As part of his plea deal, he was obligated to provide truthful testimony against the other defendants.

The trial, which lasted six days, concluded with the announcement of the verdict shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday. Eaton County Circuit Judge Janice Cunningham scheduled McCallum's sentencing for May 23, where she faces a potential life sentence.

During closing arguments, Prosecutor Doug Lloyd asserted that McCallum, along with her daughter and a friend of her daughter, conspired to murder Caraballo in early 2002, with McCallum being the mastermind behind the plan. The motive for the killing, initially unclear, became apparent during the trial, Lloyd stated, suggesting that Caraballo's presence impeded McCallum's desired lifestyle.

However, Eaton County Public Defender Timothy Havis contended that McCallum was drawn into the crime by her daughter and her friend and did not actively participate in the killing itself.

McCallum's arrest in Italy in 2020 and subsequent extradition to Michigan in 2022 marked a significant development in the long-standing case. McMillan, who testified as a key witness for the prosecution, had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison.

The case, which was investigated by the Ottawa County and Eaton County sheriff's departments, involved testimonies from McCallum's youngest daughter, Sicily Caraballo, who provided crucial details about her father's disappearance and the subsequent events leading to the discovery of his remains.

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