Michigan lawmakers 178 years ago voted to put down the death penalty, becoming the first ... outlawing capital punishment in the newly minted state. The law took effect March 1, 1847, 10 years ...

Michigan outlawed the death penalty in 1847, becoming the first English-speaking territory to abolish capital punishment ... court documents state. They also allege that Gabrion killed Davis ...

Demetrius Frazier was serving a life sentence in Michigan before being transferred to Alabama in 2011. Frazier is scheduled for execution Feb. 6.