Corpus Delicti of Murder In Michigan

"In Michigan, the corpus delicti of murder requires proof both of a death and of some criminal agency that caused that death." People v. McMahan, 451 Mich 543, 549; 548 NW2d 199 (1996). Evidence of the corpus delicti of the crime must consist of direct or circumstantial evidence that is independent of the defendant's confessions. Id. "Once the corpus delicti of the crime is established, appropriate extrajudicial confessions of the accused are admissible." Id.