Man who killed pastor makes deal

Marcel Demontae McMillan, a 30-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has agreed to a plea deal after causing a fatal wrong-way driving accident that killed Dean Elliott, a popular West Michigan pastor. The accident occurred on the morning of April 2, 2023, as McMillan was driving south in the northbound lanes.

McMillan pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (OWI) resulting in death and a habitual felon charge, 13 ON YOUR SIDE reported, citing Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker.

In exchange, charges of reckless driving and another count of being a repeat offender were dropped. McMillan, who was previously convicted of driving without a valid license in 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 at 1:30 p.m.

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Pastor Elliott, 63, of Byron Center was killed when McMillan’s vehicle collided head-on with Elliott’s Lexus SUV on U.S. 131 near Burton Street.

Elliott, who was serving as pastor of Abounding Hope at the time and was on his way to a church in Manistee for Palm Sunday services, died from injuries sustained in the accident. He had served at several churches in West Michigan, including Living Hope Assembly of God and Fennville Assembly of God Church.

Friends and community members remember Elliott as a selfless person who had a profound impact on many. Wayne Benson, a close friend, described him as someone with “very big, long arms of love” who touched the lives of thousands.

“We deeply mourn the sudden loss of our former pastor, Dean Elliott, who was killed in a car accident this morning while en route to a preaching appointment,” the Fennville Assembly of God wrote in a Facebook post after the accident.

At Abounding Hope, services include “theatrical performances” in which Elliott acts and portrays various characters in skits or presentations based on scripture, according to MLive.

Investigations revealed that McMillan had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time of the accident. Michigan State Police reported a blood alcohol content of 0.116, well over the legal limit of 0.08, and the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. This was confirmed by the smell of burnt marijuana that officers noticed at the scene of the accident and by subsequent blood tests.

A witness reported seeing McMillan’s GMC SUV enter the highway at Hall Street and head northbound and southbound before the devastating crash occurred. McMillan was also seriously injured in the crash and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

McMillan is currently free on bail.