After spending four years in different prisons, Michael Singh was transferred to the Missouri Department of Corrections Honor Center in Kansas City.
The facility allowed him limited work-release privileges, including two weekends each month outside the prison.
During this period, Singh married 34-year-old Susan Irving. But the relationship soon became violent.
On May 13, 1982, Susan filed a complaint against her husband, alleging that he had assaulted her by kicking her in the face and ribs. Singh was scheduled to appear in court on June 3.
He would never make that court appearance.
Susan Irving’s Murder
Before the scheduled hearing, Singh disappeared while on work release.
He went looking for Susan.
On May 25, he abducted her from her Kansas City home and drove her to a rural area near Camden Point, Missouri.
There, according to the source account, Singh attacked Susan with a blunt object and killed her.
He then attempted to conceal her body by digging a shallow grave.
But before he could finish, two police officers arrived in the area after receiving a trespassing complaint.
Singh tried to flee.
The escape did not last long. Officers pursued him, and he was quickly taken into custody.
After being placed in the county jail, a preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 11.
But even behind bars, Singh attempted another escape.
On July 4, he removed a ventilator screen and climbed into the ceiling area in an effort to get out of the jail.
Another inmate alerted the guards before Singh could complete the escape, and the attempt was stopped.
Imprisonment and Death
Singh’s murder trial was scheduled for July 16, 1984.
The source states that some psychiatrists had described him as “grossly disturbed.” At trial, Singh was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity and was transferred to the Fulton Medical Clinic for treatment.
He would remain in custody for decades.
On March 30, 2005, Singh was fatally stabbed by another inmate, Rahaman M. Muhammad.
According to Muhammad’s explanation to authorities, he had been involved in previous disputes with Singh. He also claimed that he wanted to be returned to police custody and believed killing someone would be the fastest way to accomplish that.
Singh died in prison.
A Murder Linked to Him Years Later
Michael Singh’s story did not end with his death.
Four years after he died, investigators were finally able to identify Candace Starr through DNA evidence.
That identification led authorities to establish that Singh was responsible for Starr’s murder.
The DNA evidence provided a final connection between Singh and a crime that had remained unresolved for years.
Yet his death meant that many questions surrounding his crimes could never be answered directly by him.