Man Who Murdered Pastor Accepts Plea Bargain

**Community Mourns Loss of Beloved Pastor in Tragic DUI Crash**

By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor | Saturday, June 08, 2024

In a heart-wrenching incident that has left the West Michigan community in mourning, Pastor Dean Elliott, 63, of Byron Center, was killed in a fatal collision caused by a wrong-way driver under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. The tragic event occurred on the morning of April 2, 2023, casting a shadow over the Palm Sunday celebrations he was en route to lead.

Marcel Demontae McMillan, 30, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has accepted a plea deal for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) causing death, along with a habitual offender charge, as reported by 13 ON YOUR SIDE. This plea comes after McMillan drove his vehicle southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. 131, near Burton Street, colliding head-on with Pastor Elliott’s Lexus SUV.

The plea agreement led to the dismissal of additional charges against McMillan, who had a prior conviction for driving without a valid license in 2021. His sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on July 24.

Pastor Elliott, who led the Abounding Hope congregation and had served in various parishes across West Michigan, including Living Hope Assembly of God and Fennville Assembly of God Church, was remembered for his selfless service and profound impact on the community. Wayne Benson, a close friend, reminisced about Elliott’s “very big, long arms of love,” highlighting his ability to touch the lives of thousands.

The Fennville Assembly of God Church expressed their grief on social media, stating, “Our hearts are grieving the sudden loss of our former Pastor Dean Elliott, who was killed in a car accident this morning while on his way to a preaching assignment.”

Investigations into the crash revealed McMillan had a blood-alcohol content of 0.116, surpassing the legal limit, and THC in his system. Witnesses reported seeing McMillan’s GMC SUV entering the freeway on the wrong side, leading to the catastrophic collision that also left McMillan seriously injured.

As the community grapples with this tragedy, Pastor Elliott’s legacy of love and service continues to be celebrated, even as questions about road safety and substance abuse loom large. McMillan, currently free on bond, awaits sentencing, leaving a community to mourn a life cut tragically short.