By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
OXFORD TOWNSHIP — First-degree murder charges were filed against Sylvia Majewska, 65, for the alleged Nov. 23, murder of her son, Daryne Gailey, 29, and her seven-month-old granddaughter, Charley Hendrick of Caro.
“It is a ‘bizarre’ case that is very sad and unfortunate,” said Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Joe Quinsenberg.
Autopsies show the infant died from blunt-force trauma to the head, and Gailey’s throat was slashed with a box cutter.
“As for blunt-force trauma, it doesn’t take a lot to hurt a child that young. Pushing down hard on the face and neck area can cause internal bleeding or a (light) slap with an open hand can cause the brain to rattle around causing death,” said Quinsenberg. “The theory on the son’s murder is he was asleep and under medication when his throat was cut causing profuse bleeding. We don’t know the exact sequence of events – who was murdered first. Evidence is still being reviewed.
“It was a self-contained crime scene so some circumstances aren’t known.”
Although a motive for the murders is unclear, authorities said some evidence was found that indicates Majewska had thought about her actions before hand.
“Some physical evidence was found that shows some planning was done for awhile. There was end-of-life estate planning done for her son, granddaughter, and for herself. As well as some documents specifying certain requests, and other documents… indicating premeditation,” said Quinsenberg. “While know one knows what was going on in her mind, the theory is she felt her son and granddaughter would be ‘better off not living.’”
During the investigation is was learned Majewska was “highly educated” and she was retired.
“We are trying to learn more… there is nothing that indicates mental illness,” said Quinsenberg about Majewska. “Her mental capacity will be evaluated and her capacity to assist with her trial.”
Oakland County Court records show: Gailey was mentally disabled, and that the courts appointed Majewska as his guardian. Also, that Amanda Hendrick had legal custody of Charley since she was born April 10, 2014, but Daryne Gailey had visitation rights every other Friday as long as Majewska was present.
Murders discovered:
Amanda Hendrick, who is Gailey’s ex-wife, called authorities when Gailey failed to return their child to her home in Caro after a scheduled weekend visit.
The dead bodies of the father and his daughter were discovered when authorities did a second a welfare check about 9:50 a.m., Nov. 23, on the baby at the Oxford residence. When the first welfare check was done, no one was home and/or didn’t respond to the door.
Majewska had been hospitalized since she was found in the home with slashes on her arm and bleeding into a container.
“She tried to kill herself. Her cuts to her wrist were severe but not (initially) fatal. If they had been left on treated, she probably would have bled to death,” he explained.
When the two, first-degree premeditated murder charges were field against Majewska Tuesday she was still in the hospital. She has since been released from the hospital, and she now jailed without bond.
Majewska has an attorney and has not talked about the incident.
A preliminary exam on the case is scheduled for Dec. 18. If she is found guilty of the charges, the maximum penalty is a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
According to Oakland County Court records: the dynamics of the Sylvia Majewska, Daryne Gailey, and Amanda Hendrick family relationship was rocky: In February, Majewska sought to have her son’s marriage to Hendrick annulled on the ground that “he did not have the capacity to marry.” Charley’s parents were married for about six months when a divorced in August. 2013 was filed. The divorce/annulment was finalized Nov. 3. And, Majewska had filed a personal protection order (PPO) against her former daughter-in-law on behalf of her son, for an alleged assault against him. The order was later lifted.
Some Caro residents who knew the family say Gailey was devoted to his daughter, that he often took Charley to the Kroger’s where he worked to show her off, and that he cried because he didn’t want the divorce his mother insisted he get on the grounds that “he didn’t have the mental capacity to marry.” s
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.