GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A former juvenile lifer is headed back to prison after running from authorities and breaking into a retirement home in late 2025.
Cody Skaggs, 47, was sentenced to at least seven years in prison on charges of breaking and entering, home invasion and attempt to disarm. Skaggs was originally facing eight charges, but took a plea deal on the first day of trial.
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The charges date back to Oct. 30, 2025. At the time, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office was searching for Skaggs, who was wanted for absconding parole. He was spotted by detectives as the passenger of a vehicle that afternoon in Plainfield Township.
When the vehicle was pulled over, the driver got out, but Skaggs moved into the driver’s seat and sped off. Authorities chased Skaggs, who hit multiple cars before crashing on Jupiter Avenue leaving the vehicle and breaking into the retirement community. Deputies said Skaggs, who had a knife, did not cooperate when they found him, resulting in officials using a less-than-lethal bean bag on him and arresting him.
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In 1997, Skaggs was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his role as the mastermind behind a June 1996 murder at Lennie’s Place in Wyoming. He was 16 at the time and three days away from his 17th birthday. Police said Skaggs, who had recently been fired from the restaurant, orchestrated the robbery and subsequent murder of the restaurant’s night manager, Richard Morris, with two others. He didn’t pull the trigger, but police said he did provide the gun.
Suspect in chase, retirement home break-in was convicted of 1996 murder
After decades in prison, Skaggs was resentenced in 2023 by a Kent County judge to 25 to 75 years, which led to his release in August of that year…