3 face perjury charges in Kent Co. homicide case

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Three people are facing perjury charges in connection to the homicide of a Kentwood father last October.

Records show that James Parker, Corey Jones, and Miqueenise Weed are accused of lying to prosecutors after they were subpoenaed.

The perjury charges are a life offense.

Benjamin Lamar Coates , 29, was supposed to pick up his mother from work, but never showed up.

On Oct. 19 , police found his body on Plaster Creek Boulevard SW in Wyoming.

His death was ruled suspicious and investigators eventually labeled it a homicide

Coates leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter.

Police have remained tight-lipped about how Coates died and what information they've learned. Coates' family has urged the community to come forward with information about his death.

Weed and Parker face two charges of perjury.

Court documents obtained by 24 Hour News 8 show Weed allegedly lied to Kent County prosecutors while under oath about who was at her home on Oct. 19, the night Benjamin Coates was killed.

The charging documents also say she lied about the number of contacts she had with Coates the day before and after he was killed.

In court documents, authorities say Parker knowingly lied under oath about his knowledge of who was involved in the incident and who he spoke to in the hours after Coates’ murder.

Court officials told 24 Hour News 8 that records were not available for Jones on Tuesday, but there was information about his past drug charges.

Court documents suggest there is digital evidence to prove the charges against Weed and Parker.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker told 24 Hour News 8 that no one has been charged with Coates' murder.

In an email to 24 Hour News 8, Wyoming Police Capt. James Maguffee wrote, "we feel it is still necessary to be cautious with public statements right now. I can say the case is active and we’ve made and are making progress and are working closely with our colleagues at GRPD. For the integrity of the investigation, I’m not in a position to divulge anything further."

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