With his initial court appearance December 17, the suspect of a Port Huron cold case appeared again in the 72nd District Court for his probable cause conference Tuesday morning.
Douglas Laming, now 70-years-old, was arrested Friday, December 15, in connection with the murder of 21-year-old Karen Umphrey in November 1980. Umphrey, a Marysville High School graduate and secretary for Marysville Marine Distributors, was found dead in Clyde Township a day after being last seen leaving a party in Port Huron.
In addition to forensic identification, investigators conducted interviews and found vital connections linking Umphrey and her alleged killer. Laming remains at the St. Clair County Detention and Intervention Center after St. Clair County Magistrate Susan Borovich imposed a $2 million bond.
Originally scheduled to appear next on January 2, 2024 for a 1:30 p.m. examination hearing, proceedings were rescheduled and the defendant will actually appear back at court for a 9:00 a.m. continuation of the probable cause conference on January 2, with his attorney needing more time to review the case.
