Woman pleads guilty to tampering with evidence in slaying of Eau Claire firefighter

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. (WNDU) – A Stevensville woman has pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in connection with shooting last month in Eau Claire which led to the death of the firefighter.

43-year-old Elizabeth Harper was was previously charged in tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact in the death of Chad Medlin, 36, of Benton Harbor.

According to our reporting partners at Herald-PalladiumHarper pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery in exchange for an accessory after the charge was dismissed.

The shooting happened back on November 2 near the intersection of Main Street and Elm Street. When police arrived, they found Madeline unresponsive and suffering from non-life threatening injuries. Another victim, a 39-year-old man from Eau Claire, was found shot with non-life threatening injuries.

Both victims were taken to the hospital, where Madeline later died.

The shooting suspect, 47-year-old Rigoberto Gomez of Eau Claire, faces six felony charges. including open murder.

According to The Herald-Palladium, Harper admitted to detectives that she lied in a previous interview about her knowledge of the incident. She also reportedly led police to a black box containing the gun used in the crime, which she said she dumped in the woods the morning after the shooting.

Harper is to be sentenced on January 27 and faces up to 10 years in prison.