A Michigan woman thought she’d gotten away with murder until her own pet parrot became the surprise witness that helped send her to prison for life, proving that even in the most unlikely circumstances, the truth finds a way to surface.
Glenna Duram faced justice in 2017 after a jury convicted her of first-degree murder in the May 2015 shooting death of her husband, Martin Duram, in their Ensley Township, Michigan home. The 49-year-old woman shot her 46-year-old husband five times before turning the gun on herself in a failed suicide attempt. When authorities arrived, Glenna claimed she couldn’t remember what happened due to her own head wound. Her convenient amnesia might have worked, except for one unexpected problem: their African Grey parrot, Bud, remembered everything.
The Parrot That Wouldn’t Stay Quiet
After Martin’s death, custody of Bud went to Christina Keller, Martin’s ex-wife. Within weeks, Keller noticed something disturbing. The intelligent bird began repeating phrases that sounded exactly like a violent argument in Martin’s voice, including the desperate plea “Don’t f***ing shoot!” and other commands like “No! Don’t shoot!” and “Shut up!”
African Grey parrots are renowned for their exceptional ability to mimic human speech with remarkable accuracy, often reproducing their owners’ exact voices and intonations. Bud’s traumatic recitation painted a clear picture of Martin’s final moments, begging for his life as his wife aimed a gun at him.
Financial Pressure and Deadly Consequences
The murder occurred on the same day the Durams’ home was sold through a sheriff’s foreclosure sale, revealing the couple’s severe financial distress. These mounting pressures apparently triggered the fatal confrontation that Bud witnessed and later repeated. While Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead acknowledged he wasn’t aware of any legal precedent for using a parrot as a witness in court, the bird’s mimicry provided crucial circumstantial support for the prosecution’s case. The prosecutor noted the obvious challenge: unlike human witnesses, Bud couldn’t be sworn in or cross-examined, joking that the bird couldn’t “raise a wing” to take an oath.
Justice Served Despite Legal Novelty
The jury deliberated for approximately eight hours before convicting Glenna Duram of first-degree murder and felony firearm charges. Martin’s family expressed relief and vindication, with relatives stating she “belongs in jail” for “cold-bloodedly” killing Marty. While Bud’s testimony never formally entered the courtroom record, investigators and family members considered the parrot’s repeated phrases as compelling confirmation of what really happened that day. The case represents an extraordinary example of how physical evidence, witness accounts, and even unusual circumstantial details can combine to ensure murderers face accountability, regardless of their attempts to eliminate witnesses or feign memory loss.
Glenna Duram’s sentencing was scheduled for August 28, 2017, with first-degree murder carrying life imprisonment implications. Bud remains with Christina Keller, living as a reminder that justice can come from the most unexpected sources. This Michigan case joins rare international incidents, including a 2018 Argentina case where a parrot mimicked a rape-murder victim’s pleas, demonstrating that truth-seeking doesn’t always follow conventional paths. While animal testimony remains legally inadmissible, this case shows that criminals underestimate how many ways their actions can be recorded and revealed, serving as a warning that accountability extends beyond what they imagine.
Sources:
Woman Convicted of Murder Witnessed by Pet Parrot – ABC13
Ex-Wife: Pet Parrot Repeating Words Man Said Before Death – FOX 10 Phoenix
The Case of the Bird-Brained Witness – Killzone Blog
Episode 235: The Murder of Marty Duram Pt. II – Sinisterhood