Handyman gets 20 years for murder of Detroit woman found in trash bag

DETROIT (WJBK) - The family of a Detroit woman who was murdered in cold blood and put in a garbage bag in a Detroit garage is getting some measure of justice served.

Carissa Oakman was smothered to death in January 2017. She was found stuffed in a garbage bag in a garage on Detroit's west side. One of the accused, Orlandus Calhoun, pleaded guilty to second degree murder was sentenced to prison on Tuesday. 

Carissa's father, Denny, says that the death is haunting the family.

"When our daughter was taken from us, it's totally destroy my family. We can't sleep, can't interact, we're afraid of everybody," he said on Tuesday.

Calhoun worked as a handyman in Carissa's building. Denny says that they knew each other and there was trust. The Detroiter befriended him before she was murdered.

Woman found murdered had recently befriended suspect in custody

"This man has had holiday dinners with my daughter and my family. My daughter trusted him," Denny said.

Carissa's daughter, Nadia Ellis, also spoke on Tuesday. She echoes Denny's feelings that they're haunted but hopes that Calhoun is haunted as well.

"Not a day goes by that we don't miss her. I just know that person right there is going to have to live with what he did for the rest of his life," she said. "I hope it haunts him for as long as he lives."

Calhoun was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

The other two charged, her former landlord Marguerite Picks and another man named Antenidus Collier, are due in court next month.