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| Billie Jean |
In Season 9, Episode 3, Nicole Vonlee
Titlow is Billie Rogers. Rogers was her aunt.
featured on Gamble Lives Away. This is the story of how Nicole Vonlee Titlow committed murder upon Don Rogers with their partner, .
featured on Gamble Lives Away. This is the story of how Nicole Vonlee Titlow committed murder upon Don Rogers with their partner, .
Nicole Vonlee Titlow was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20-year sentence. She is housed in a men's prison.
Billie Rogers died of cancer six months after the murder so karma found a way.
Her appeal (see link) includes:
Respondent Titlow and Billie Rogers were arrested for the murder ofBillie’s husband. After explaining to respondent that the State’s evi-dence could support a conviction for first-degree murder, respondent’s attorney negotiated a manslaughter plea in exchange for an agree-ment to testify against Billie. Three days before Billie’s trial, re-spondent retained a new attorney, Frederick Toca, who demanded aneven lower sentence in exchange for the guilty plea and testimony. The prosecutor rejected the proposal, and respondent withdrew theoriginal plea. Without that testimony, Billie was acquitted. Re-spondent was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder. On direct appeal, respondent argued that Toca provided ineffective assis-tance by advising withdrawal of the plea without taking time to learnthe strength of the State’s evidence. The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the claim, concluding that Toca’s actions were reasonable inlight of his client’s protestations of innocence. On federal habeas re-view, the District Court applied the deferential standard of review setforth in the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), concluded that the Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling wasreasonable on the law and facts, and denied relief. The Sixth Circuit reversed. It found the factual predicate for the state court’s deci-sion—that the plea withdrawal was based on respondent’s assertion of innocence—an unreasonable interpretation of the factual record, given Toca’s explanation at the withdrawal hearing that the decisionto withdraw was made because the State’s original plea offer was higher than the sentencing range provided by the Michigan guide-lines. It also found no evidence in the record that Toca adequatelyadvised respondent of the consequences of withdrawal.
Her appeal (see link) includes:
Respondent Titlow and Billie Rogers were arrested for the murder ofBillie’s husband. After explaining to respondent that the State’s evi-dence could support a conviction for first-degree murder, respondent’s attorney negotiated a manslaughter plea in exchange for an agree-ment to testify against Billie. Three days before Billie’s trial, re-spondent retained a new attorney, Frederick Toca, who demanded aneven lower sentence in exchange for the guilty plea and testimony. The prosecutor rejected the proposal, and respondent withdrew theoriginal plea. Without that testimony, Billie was acquitted. Re-spondent was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder. On direct appeal, respondent argued that Toca provided ineffective assis-tance by advising withdrawal of the plea without taking time to learnthe strength of the State’s evidence. The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected the claim, concluding that Toca’s actions were reasonable inlight of his client’s protestations of innocence. On federal habeas re-view, the District Court applied the deferential standard of review setforth in the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), concluded that the Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling wasreasonable on the law and facts, and denied relief. The Sixth Circuit reversed. It found the factual predicate for the state court’s deci-sion—that the plea withdrawal was based on respondent’s assertion of innocence—an unreasonable interpretation of the factual record, given Toca’s explanation at the withdrawal hearing that the decisionto withdraw was made because the State’s original plea offer was higher than the sentencing range provided by the Michigan guide-lines. It also found no evidence in the record that Toca adequatelyadvised respondent of the consequences of withdrawal.
You can write to Nicole Vonlee Titlow
at:
Nicole Vonlee Titlow 384878
G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility
3500 N Elm Ave
Jackson, MI 49201
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