Michael George, the comics retailer accused of killing his first wife 17 years ago, has been released on $1 million bond until his trial in Michigan next month.
The Johnstown, Pa., Tribune Democrat reports that George must wear a monitoring device and remain in his mother’s Michigan home until the Feb. 26 trial.
George, owner of Comics World in Windber, Pa., and co-founder of Pittsburgh Comic-Con, is accused of staging the July 13, 1990, shooting death of his first wife Barbara to look like a robbery of their Clinton Township, Mich., comic-book store. Prosecutors say he wanted to collect his wife’s $125,000 insurance policy and their shared estate, and start over with another woman.
George has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, insurance fraud and other charges. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
To make a completely superficial and innocuous comment, is there another picture of this gentleman available anywhere? This deer-in-the-headlights photo accompanies most every story about this case, and it seems like the guy could stand to be represented with a little more dignity.
Not making any judgement on his guilt or innocence, that’s obviously for the courts to decide.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
If I was George and I did it? I’d take what remained of the insurance money and run to Canada…
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Yeah, not a great photo, especially if you don’t want people to think you’re a creep…
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Snikt Snakt,
Why would you go to Canada?
You should go to a country without an extradition treaty with the US. Iran, North Korea and Bhutan suck but Taiwan is pretty damn nice for a country where the US can’t really touch you.
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Canada is closer to Michigan, jza. Do you still not need a passport to crossover and back? If so, RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
“If I was George and I did it? I’d take what remained of the insurance money and run to Canada…”
The insurance policy was $125,000, and for a million dollar bond you would probably have to put up 10%.
Add to that legal fees he has probably already paid and I would guess he doesn’t have much of that insurance money on hand anymore.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
doesn’t matter Joe, if he did, he should make a break for it, OJ style!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
snikt snakt needs to be on @blog staff, make it happen Brady!
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Seconded!
January 24th, 2008 at 7:35 am
thirded!
January 25th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Do any of you have loved ones that if they were murdered, you’d want their (alleged) killer to be on the run with insurance money made over their death? Really dudes? That’s your best?
January 26th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I’m pretty sure that the insurance money was spent years ago. Probably when he moved to Pennsylvania and opened a new store. It has been over 17 years.
January 28th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Good luck with everything Mike, Im glad to hear that you are out! Were all behind you!
January 29th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I was only 7 when this murder took place. My family was close to an employee at the comic book store (who was also his girlfriend) now his wife. We could always tell something was going on with those two. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes down with him. I am not saying I was a super child but you had to be blind to not see what was going on. Soon after his wife’s mysterious death, his children were already calling his girlfriend mom and they may have been long before their own mother died.
When ever he was around Renee, the former family friend my mom did not want us around him… THIS WAS WAY before the murder…. This man is NO saint and I can not wait to see him go to jail. 17 years after his poor wife’s death when I heard he was been charged with murder I was so relived! So many people knew deep down he had something to do with it…. But so many people can charge him just for being a creep…
February 6th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
While I didn’t know Mike 17 years ago, since he has been in Pittsburgh, he has consistently been one of the nicest people I have ever met. my personal feelings aside, his charity work alone can vouch for that. How much money has he raised year in and out at the Pittsburgh Comicon? The man pours his heart into that auction every year. he has raised so much more for charity than he got from a measely $125,000 in insurance. and don’t go giving me any crap about a “guilty conscience”! It is beyond hard for me to conceive that he did this.
so what the man married a co-worker 2 years after his wife’s death. i have known so many people that didn’t even wait that long. who are we to jusge his personal life in that regard?
plus, so many people say, “oh look, he ran away to pittsburgh! guilty!” really? if i was trying to hide away after i murdered my wife, i would run a hell of a lot further away than pittsburgh. plus i would do my best not to found and continually promote on of the largest comic conventions on the east coast.
there is just too much here that doesn’t add up to mike being a murderer. i’m glad he’s finally out on bail. all of the evidence is circumstantial. he should have been out a long time ago.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I could’nt of said it better Don. We’ll see you soon Mike. I look forward to it!