LANSING, Mich. — A Clinton County court is scheduled to hold a hearing on April 30 to determine whether Thomas Olson will be retried for the 2018 murder of Bath Township hunter Chong Yang. Olson was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Yang’s death, but he has since filed a motion claiming ineffective legal representation during his trial.
Yang, a frequent hunter at Rose Lake State Park, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on November 16, 2018, at around 10:00 p.m. His body was discovered by family members after Yang failed to return home from a hunting trip. Concerned about his whereabouts, Yang’s wife and family found his car in a nearby parking lot, and following a trail of footprints, they located his body.
According to court documents, Olson was sentenced in February 2024 to a prison term ranging from 270 months to 60 years for the murder of Yang. During the trial, the prosecution argued that Olson was responsible for the killing, while the defense claimed the evidence was insufficient to convict him of murder.
However, Olson’s defense team has since requested a “Ginther Evidentiary Hearing,” a legal procedure that allows a defendant to present claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The upcoming hearing will provide Olson an opportunity to challenge the effectiveness of his legal representation during the trial. If the court finds merit in Olson’s claims, it could lead to a retrial.
The hearing is set to take place at 9:00 a.m. on April 30, 2025. As the case continues to develop, the court’s decision will be closely watched, as it may impact Olson’s conviction and future legal options.
