2nd man pleads guilty in Madbury teen's death

Michael Tatum (WMUR-TV image)

DOVER, N.H. - As expected, a second man accused in the death of a Madbury teenager last June pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder and faces 30 years to life in prison.

Michael Tatum, 22, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, was with co-defendants Tristan Wolusky, 19, of 46 Lowell St. in Rochester, and Zachary 'D.J.' Pinette, 19, of 5B Rankin St., Springvale, Maine, early the morning of June 21 when Aaron Wilkinson was stabbed to death in the driveway of his Evans Road home.

His still-bleeding body was then dumped along Long Swamp Road in Lebanon, where it was found later that day by a woman walking her dog.

Plea deals now by Tatum and Pinette allow them a chance for parole down the road, but first they both have to testify against Wolusky, whose first-degree murder trial is set to begin in June. Wolusky faces the prospect of life in prison without parole.

Tatum, like Pinette earlier this month, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and falsifying physical evidence.

Wolusky, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including first- and second-degree murder.

As with Pinette, Tatum will not be sentenced until the completion of the Wolusky trial.

The suspects are accused of killing the 18-year-old Wilkinson sometime around 1:30 a.m. on June 21 on the property of his 36 Evans Road home where he lived with his father.

Prosecutors say Wilkinson saw Wolusky shine a flashlight from some trees on the Evans Road property around 1:30 a.m. the night of the murder and told his dad he was going out to see him.

His dad then went up to bed. The next morning he realized his son was missing, went outside to investigate, found pools of blood in the driveway and called police.

Court testimony reveals the three planned to rob Wilkinson of drug money they suspected he had. As Wilkinson came out to meet Wolusky, the other two hid.

The much-bigger Wolusky then is alleged to have wrestled Wilkinson to the ground, where he, along with Tatum and Pinette all stabbed Wilkinson with knives and a machete. The medical examiner said 22 stab wounds were identified, mostly to the back, head and shoulder.

The trio made off with Wilkinson's cellphone and about $37.

All three suspects when interviewed by police initially said they had seen Wilkinson get into another car with a group of people and drive off, but eventually changed their stories and the charges were brought forward.