Double Life of a Killer: Man in Prison for Home Invasion Now Faces Murder Sentence After Acquittal on Arson Charge

*KALAMAZOO, MI* — A 54-year-old Kalamazoo man already serving time for a Calhoun County home invasion will now be sentenced for murder after being found guilty of second-degree murder in the June 2022 stabbing death of James Travis.

Andrew John McCormack, 54, was found guilty Thursday, March 26, of second-degree murder in the June 2022 stabbing death of James Travis. McCormack was also found guilty of tampering with evidence but was acquitted of second-degree arson, Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Williams confirmed Thursday.

McCormack will be sentenced on Monday, April 20.

Two Crimes, Two Defendants

Travis, 53, was found dead June 18, 2022, after a fire at a Kalamazoo Township home on Shakespeare Avenue, near Egleston Avenue.

McCormack's co-defendant, Shawna Fay Kroeger, was sentenced in March 2025 to serve between 18 and 30 years in prison, after pleading no contest to second-degree arson and second-degree murder.

Kroeger, now 35, had been accused of robbing Travis of marijuana and money, and setting the house on fire.

When first responders entered the home that night, they saw blood smeared across the walls and floor, according to testimony at McCormack's preliminary hearing.

They then found Travis dead on the living room floor. It appeared that a fire had been intentionally set, starting near a door and extending toward his body.

The fire had flamed out by the time first responders arrived, but smoke still lingered. The smell of natural gas was throughout the home, one officer testified.

A kitchen knife and a wrench were also found near Travis' body.

Criminal History: A Pattern of Violence

Two days after Travis was found dead, McCormack was involved in another crime, this time a home invasion in Calhoun County.

He was sentenced in June 2025 to between 10 and 20 years in prison, after being found guilty of first-degree home invasion in that case.

The timing raises questions about whether McCormack committed multiple crimes in rapid succession, exploiting the confusion and chaos of the original tragedy.

Prosecution's Theory

The prosecution argues that McCormack was present at the scene and actively participated in the assault that led to Travis' death. The knife and wrench found near the body support this theory.

However, the jury acquitted McCormack of arson, suggesting they believed Kroeger set the fire while McCormack was responsible for the stabbing.

This split verdict creates an unusual sentencing scenario where McCormack faces murder charges but the fire that killed Travis was attributed to his co-defendant.

What Happens Next

McCormack will be sentenced on Monday, April 20, and will face the cumulative effect of both his murder conviction and his prior home invasion sentence.

The case highlights the complex nature of crimes that involve multiple perpetrators and the difficult choices juries must make when evidence points to different defendants for different aspects of a single tragedy.

The acquittal on arson charges suggests the jury believed Kroeger, who pleaded no contest to both charges, was solely responsible for setting the fire that killed Travis.

Sources

  • https://mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2026/03/kalamazoo-man-convicted-in-2022-fatal-stabbing-but-acquitted-of-arson.html