A Calhoun County judge ordered intensive probation after reviewing the teen’s progress in juvenile custody.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A teenager connected to the 2023 killing of Battle Creek Central High School student Jack Snyder was released from juvenile custody this week after a judge ruled he had completed treatment and educational requirements tied to his sentence.
Thursday’s hearing in Calhoun County marked another emotional chapter in a case that has drawn attention across Michigan since Snyder was shot during an attempted carjacking at age 17. Dewond Estes III, now 16, had pleaded guilty to carjacking in exchange for prosecutors dropping an open murder charge. The court previously ordered him into a juvenile placement under a blended sentence that combined an adult conviction with juvenile supervision. His release now places renewed focus on how Michigan courts handle serious crimes involving young offenders.
The case began on Feb. 17, 2023, when Snyder was driving home after attending his girlfriend’s birthday party in Battle Creek. Police said Snyder saw two boys walking along Battle Creek Avenue and offered them a ride home. Investigators later said the teenagers, identified as Estes and Justice Chimner, planned to steal a vehicle. During a struggle inside Snyder’s car, gunfire erupted and Snyder was killed. Authorities said Chimner admitted firing the weapon while Estes participated in the attempted carjacking. Both boys were later charged as adults. Estes eventually accepted a plea agreement in October 2024, admitting guilt to carjacking while avoiding trial on a murder count. Judge John Hallacy later imposed a blended sentence that allowed juvenile rehabilitation while keeping the possibility of stronger adult penalties if Estes failed to comply with court orders.
During Thursday’s review hearing, prosecutors told the court Estes had completed high school requirements and finished a treatment program while housed in a juvenile facility. The judge approved his release under intensive probation conditions that include GPS monitoring, community service obligations and a ban on contacting Snyder’s family. Court records also show Estes must continue participating in employment and support programs and return for another hearing within 30 days. Members of Snyder’s family criticized the ruling outside the courtroom. Christopher Jordan, Snyder’s uncle, said relatives believed the teen would remain in custody until at least age 18. Family members said the release felt too early given the seriousness of the crime and the lasting impact of Snyder’s death. Estes’ mother, Labricia Banks, told reporters her son had changed during custody and deserved another opportunity to rebuild his life.
The killing shocked the Battle Creek community because of the circumstances surrounding Snyder’s death. Friends and relatives repeatedly described the high school senior as compassionate and willing to help others. Prosecutors said Snyder stopped to help the boys because they appeared stranded in cold weather. The case later became part of a wider conversation in Michigan about juvenile justice, plea agreements and rehabilitation for young offenders accused of violent crimes. Under Michigan law, blended sentencing gives judges flexibility to combine juvenile supervision with adult criminal consequences. Supporters argue the approach allows teenagers a chance at rehabilitation while preserving accountability measures if they reoffend. Critics, including some victims’ families, say the system can reduce punishment too sharply in serious homicide-related cases. Public attention intensified after Chimner separately pleaded guilty to murder and received a prison sentence of 36 to 60 years earlier this year.
Legal proceedings connected to the case are continuing despite Estes’ release. Court oversight remains active through periodic hearings that monitor compliance with probation conditions. If Estes violates court requirements, the judge could revisit the sentence and impose harsher penalties. Officials have not publicly detailed every component of his treatment program, but court discussions referenced education goals, behavioral treatment and employment preparation. Authorities have also continued investigating another individual known by the nickname “Spaz,” whom investigators previously linked to conversations about stealing a vehicle before Snyder was killed. An arrest warrant tied to that individual remained active during earlier court proceedings. Prosecutors have not announced any new charges connected to that part of the investigation. Meanwhile, Snyder’s relatives have continued attending hearings and speaking publicly about what they view as failures in the juvenile justice process.
The hearing itself reflected the sharp divide that has followed the case from the beginning. Supporters of Snyder’s family filled portions of the courtroom while relatives of Estes sat nearby as the judge reviewed progress reports and supervision plans. Family members quietly wiped away tears as attorneys discussed timelines and conditions tied to the release order. Outside the courthouse, some residents expressed frustration that a teenager connected to a deadly crime could leave custody after roughly two years. Others pointed to Estes’ age at the time of the offense and argued rehabilitation efforts should remain part of the justice system. The emotional weight of the case has remained visible at nearly every court appearance since 2023, particularly as Snyder’s family continues grieving milestones he never reached, including graduation and early adulthood.
Estes is expected back in court next month for another status hearing as probation officials review his adjustment outside juvenile custody. The broader case continues to stand as one of West Michigan’s most closely watched juvenile crime proceedings in recent years.
Author note: Last updated May 23, 2026.