Man Busted for Pot Plants 'Person of Interest' in Armada Teen's Murder

James David Vancallis, a ”person of interest” in the strangulation and beating of April Millsap, appeared in court Tuesday on drug charges. (Screenshot: WDIV, Channel 4, video)

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A man in custody on drug charges is a “person of interest” in April Millsap, the murder of April Millsap, the Armada teen whose dog led joggers to her body along a popular Macomb County recreational trail last month, authorities said.

James Donald Vancallis, 32, was taken into custody after a search of his residence n Goodells, an unincorporated village in Wales Township, turned up marijuana plants and appeared in court on drug charges Tuesday, WDIV, Channel 4, reports.

His father, 66-year-od James Bernard Vancallis, also is charged with manufacturing marijuana and related offenses.

The two men were arrested after an earlier search. Investigators were back at the property Monday with sealed search warrants. Among the items seized was a dirt bike. Since the beginning of the investigation, police have been interested in knowing more about a small motorcycle seen near the spot Millsap’s body was found.

““We are looking at (James Vancallis), obviously, because we’ve served two search warrants in that property.” – Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw

Also seized in the search were clothing, cell phone, hunting gear, bank records, photos and notebooks.

Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw confirmed James Vancallis is “a person of interest in our investigation,” but didn’t call him a suspect.

“We are looking at him, obviously,” Shaw said, “because we’ve served two search warrants in that property.”

The items seized Monday will be tested for DNA evidence as police try to put together a case connecting James Vancallis to the murder, according to the report.

Dean Ankouny, an attorney representing the Vancallises, said their home has been “ransacked” twice, even though his clients are cooperative. They feel harassed, according to the report.

Millsap was beaten and strangled, according to an autopsy report. Her body was discovered July 24 in a drainage ditch along the Macomb Orchard Trail, where she had been walking her dog, Penny.