A Man Already Behind Bars Is Now Convicted of Murder in a Case That Took Years to Reach a Jury

KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Andrew McCormack was already serving a decade-long prison sentence in Jackson when he stood trial for killing James Travis in 2022. Now, nearly four years after the stabbing death, a Kalamazoo County jury has found him guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

McCormack, 54, was convicted on Thursday of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 53-year-old James Travis, according to court records. The killing occurred on June 18, 2022 at a home on Shakespeare Avenue in Kalamazoo Township, police said.

A Kalamazoo man already serving a decade-long prison sentence in Jackson has now been convicted of murder in a case that took nearly four years to reach a jury.

McCormack was acquitted on a charge of second-degree arson. The jury deliberated on whether McCormack intentionally stabbed Travis multiple times or whether the fire that burned the home was intentional.

Medical examiners ultimately determined Travis had died from multiple sharp force injuries.

Dollar Bills, A Wrench, And A Knife Covered In Blood Were Found Near Travis's Body

When detectives arrived to the scene around 8:30 p.m. that evening, they said Travis had been stabbed multiple times. Investigators also said that a fire had been intentionally set inside the home.

Dollar bills, a wrench, and a knife -- all covered in blood -- were found near his body, according to police.

Charges against McCormack and his co-defendant, now 35-year-old Shawna Kroeger, came approximately six months after Travis's death. Kroeger was sentenced one year ago to 18-to-30 years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder and arson.

Kroeger was sentenced in March 2025 to serve between 18 and 30 years in prison, after pleading no contest to second-degree arson and second-degree murder.

Prosecutor Explains Why Trial Took So Long

Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting told News Channel 3 there has been a desire to have the case against McCormack closed for years. But he cited defense attorney changes, competency evaluations, and a backlogged Michigan State Police crime lab as reasons for a delayed trial.

"There were several different attorneys that were assigned and then withdrew," Getting said.

"There were delays caused by having him evaluated to ensure that he was competent to stand trial."

"This isn't like what people see on TV...on CSI or other shows, where you can take a piece of evidence and submit to a crime lab and have an answer in 30 minutes," Getting said.

The prosecutor emphasized that real-world investigations rarely match the quick resolutions shown on television crime dramas. Evidence processing takes time. Competency evaluations add weeks or months to a case. And when multiple attorneys get assigned and then withdraw, the process starts over.

McCormack Was Already Convicted Of A Home Invasion In Calhoun County

McCormack was already a state of Michigan inmate after being convicted of a Calhoun County home invasion last year. The conviction came before the murder charges were filed. Now he will spend decades more in prison for killing Travis.

A jury found Andrew McCormack guilty yesterday of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the stabbing death of 53-year-old James Travis.

The case highlights how the Kalamazoo County court system handles complex cases involving defendants with prior convictions. When someone is already behind bars for one crime, the system must still determine whether they committed other crimes.

A 54-year-old Kalamazoo man who is already a state of Michigan inmate after being convicted of a Calhoun County home invasion last year will spend decades more in prison.

The Justice System Delays Real People

This case took four years to reach a jury. That means Travis's family waited nearly four years for answers. McCormack's co-defendant Kroeger waited four years for her own trial, though she pleaded guilty and received her sentence sooner.

A jury found Andrew McCormack guilty yesterday of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the stabbing death of 53-year-old James Travis.

The Michigan State Police crime lab backlog contributed to delays. Real crime labs don't have instant answers. They process evidence over months. They send samples to state facilities. They wait for results. And when evidence is complex or contaminated, they send it out multiple times.

This isn't like what people see on TV.

The prosecutor's comments reflect a reality many Michigan residents face. The justice system is slower than television shows suggest. Cases get delayed. Evidence gets backlogged. Defendants get evaluated for competency. And families wait.

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