Teen girl found dead in woods was scheduled to testify against her alleged rapist

A high school Michigan girl found dead in woods in Kalamazoo last month was scheduled to testify at a schedule April trial against a man who allegedly raped her.

WMMT reports that 16-year-old Mujey Dumbuya never made it school on Jan. 25. She generally walked to and from school, but on that particular day, she never made it back to her Grand Rapids home. Authorities found her lifeless body around 50 miles away from her residence, and they are now treating rape suspect, Quinn James, 42, as a person of interest.

James, a criminal with four previous offenses, was facing four charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor. He’s accused of raping Dumbuya in the Ridge Park Charter Academy school parking lot in Grand Rapids when the victim was 15. Upon his arrest in Nov. last year, he told authorities that he had consensual sex with the teen. Dumbuya said that after the first initial assault, James forced her to have sex with several other times in various locations.

“There is something about you. I could stop, but I just can’t,” James told the teen in the school parking, according to what Dumbuya told authorities.

A judge ordered James to stay away from Dumbuya and scheduled a trial to start in April.

Although Dumbuya attended East Kentwood High School, her boyfriend, identified as James’ nephew, attended Ridge Park.

School officials at Kentwood Public Schools said that James had been working with the grounds and maintenance crew since 2011. Officials claimed they weren’t aware of his past criminal record. They also said James had little to no contact with the students while working. He was since fired from his job after school officials learned of his charges and past legal troubles.

A couple out taking a walking found Dumbuya’s body. Two days later, detectives identified the body as Dumbuya and alerted the family, who immediately became suspicious of foul play.

Last week, the suspect was arrested in connection with another rape that occurred in 2014. He’s being held on a $500,000 bond in that case, but authorities are investigating whether he was somehow involved with Dumbuya’s death.

The story is still developing. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.

[Feature Photo: Mujey Dumbuya/Family Handout & Quinn James/Police Handout]