Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


A Genoa Township man convicted in the stabbing death of his neighbor in October of 2021 has been sentenced.

48-year-old Brandon Wilson of Genoa Township was ordered to serve 56 to 85 years in prison. He was sentenced Thursday in Livingston County Circuit Court and received credit for 745 days already served.

Wilson was found guilty by a local jury during a September trial of 2nd degree murder in the death of 66-year-old Janey Lynn Cairns, also of Genoa Township.

Wilson was stopped in Texas on October 4th, 2021 for a traffic violation and at that time, made statements to law enforcement that ultimately resulted in the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office responding to conduct a welfare check of Cairns’ residence – where Cairns body was discovered. Police said Wilson later waived his Miranda rights and gave a full confession that he stabbed and assaulted Cairns several times.

Wilson was charged as a 3rd time habitual offender. Court records show that restitution was also ordered to cover the costs of extradition.