Man convicted of killing his roommate with a machete, claimed to be ‘God’

FLINT, Mich. (TCN) — A jury recently convicted a 38-year-old man of using a machete to kill his roommate nearly three years ago.

The Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office announced Oct. 1 that a jury found Terrence Haywood guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the death of 34-year-old Cole Campbell. Haywood faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole and is set to be sentenced on Oct. 27.

According to prosecutors, on Feb. 1, 2022, Campbell told his mother and ex that the defendant “had been swinging machetes around their home for 48 hours and claiming to be God.” Campbell also met with police at a local McDonald’s to report his roommate’s behavior, but he declined an escort back home.

The following day, Campbell’s mother requested a welfare check after she was unable to reach her son. Officers responded and saw blood on the porch and throughout the residence. Police also reportedly found several machetes. The prosecutor’s office noted that “Haywood was providing evasive explanations.”

According to authorities, Haywood “described a dream where he was chasing after Campbell, who was running away like a victim toward Mitson Boulevard.” On Feb. 4, 2022, Campbell’s frozen body was discovered at the location Haywood described. An autopsy revealed Campbell died of multiple sharp force injuries consistent with machete strikes.

During trial, Haywood reportedly said he “had been receiving messages instructing him to murder his roommate in order to protect his sister and her children.” The victim had allegedly dated the defendant’s sister, and they had children together. On the night of the fatal attack, Haywood said he told the victim about the messages and “asked Campbell to kill him instead.” After Campbell refused and dropped the machete, Haywood reportedly picked it up and struck his roommate. The defendant purportedly followed Campbell to Mitson Boulevard, where his body was later discovered.

Prosecutor David Leyton called the attack “one of the more unusual homicide cases” he has seen.

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