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Amy Robach
This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed human. If audiobooks are your thing or you've been meaning to listen to more of them, you should check out a podcast called earsay, the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club. Hosted by Cal Penn.
Cal Penn
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Amy Robach
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Cal Penn
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TJ Holmes
hey there folks.
Cal Penn
It is Tuesday, May 12, and a
TJ Holmes
man in Michigan was just sentenced to decades in prison for killing his best friend and his best man on his wedding night. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and tj. To be clear, this guy who is dead was the best friend of and the best man of the groom. The groom who is now going to prison for killing him on wedding night Robes. This is some Sometimes we talk about headlines that are written to get you to click this one is what it is.
Amy Robach
Yeah. I mean, you can't even believe it. You click on it Thinking, no way, this can't have actually happened.
TJ Holmes
But.
Amy Robach
But it did. And it's just beyond tragic. Even some of the photos from the courtroom, just all sides, the. The groomsman, the best man's family, and certainly the groom himself and his family and his bride is also implicated in all of this. It's horrific. It is not the way anyone would have pictured a wedding night celebration to have ended.
TJ Holmes
This is awful. This is a time. You know, I love weddings and new beginnings and the idea of families coming together and blending families and blending friends. And just to think of what we all. We've all been to a wedding. We've all been to the celebration after a wedding. Now imagine at that celebration, the groom kills his best man. Now, this didn't happen. We'll explain here. This wasn't some physical fight. He actually hit him with a car. We're going to get into the incident, but this just happened. Ropes. Yesterday in court. But this was up in Michigan. We're talking about a guy up there.
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There.
TJ Holmes
This is just outside of Detroit. Is it Flint?
Amy Robach
Flint. It's Flint, Michigan. Yeah.
TJ Holmes
Is where this took place. But he was in court yesterday. And the guy we're talking about, Robes, is James Shira. And he's such a young guy, 24 years old.
Amy Robach
And by the way, this happened in August of 2024. So he might have been as young as 22, 23. I mean, that's how old we were when we got married. So, yeah, a young groom and his best man, the man who was killed, Terry Taylor, 29 years old. So these are young folks who were celebrating and it should have ended beautifully, of course. And I like what you said. Weddings are new beginnings. It's a fresh start. It's. You're excited to begin your life and now it's over. His life is over. And so obviously was his best friends in that moment.
TJ Holmes
You know, it's. This is tragic any day of the week. And no, nobody can be any more dead than any other moment. But there's still something about the circumstances. Robes, that this just hits so terribly when you think about what was supposed to be taking place. Now, his friend you mentioned, Robes, 29 years old. He's actually a. Was a father of three.
Amy Robach
Yeah. With one on the way.
TJ Holmes
On the way when he died. So a father of four, I guess, really at this point. Just an awful story there, but what happened yesterday again, Robes, you mentioned August. And we'll get into the incident, the actual wedding, but one. The update now is that he was in court yesterday and this Was not a trial. Robes, he did plead guilty to second degree manslaughter, second degree murder.
Amy Robach
Do I have second degree murder? Correct. He, he initially had open murder charges because he agreed to plead out in this case, it was reduced to second degree murder. Yes, but he had no prior felonies, no misdemeanors. And we'll get into what the judge told him too. But he professed incredible remorse. In court yesterday, he said, I will forever be sorry. And he has maintained that it wasn't intentional. The judge said BS didn't believe. But look, he said, that was my best friend. I accept full responsibility for my actions that night.
TJ Holmes
And these are two guys who've known each other for a long time. And so, you know, they knew the same friends and family and, and to have. I mean, that's. That relationship is just ruined. So this is an awful story, but yesterday he was in court. He was. He was crying, he was tearful, he was remorseful. But again, Robes, he has maintained this was an accident. The judge, the prosecutors, and by video, they have. They completely. Robes say that's just not a theory that's going to hold up. You can say it all day long, but it's just not what happened. So let's go back to August 3rd of 2024, of all places, was that Flint Pizzeria is where they had their wedding. That's where the. Where it all started.
Amy Robach
But the pizza party after the wedding. Right.
TJ Holmes
There you go. So they get. They actually get married at the pizzeria and then leave to go have a party. Now I'm not exactly sure. I think it was a house.
Amy Robach
It was a house party.
TJ Holmes
There we go. So, yeah, is where the celebration was supposed to take place.
Amy Robach
And it was described as. There was a lot of drinking going on, a lot of alcohol. But that's pretty much the case at a lot of wedding receptions, regardless of where they are.
Cal Penn
I see a lot of. Isn't it all.
Amy Robach
Pretty much most weddings that I've attended have a lot of alcohol flowing. And so, yes, somehow some way during that celebration, a fight broke out between the two. And it was described in one publication that it was a fight between the couple and the groomsman or the best man. So I don't know if his. His new bride was somehow involved in this argument which could have led him to get angrier. I don't know what was said. We don't know what the fight was about. Did you ever.
TJ Holmes
No one ever said what the fight was about. And again, we say fight. From what I understand Robes, this was just heated argument. We're not talking about rolling around the ground, fisticuffs.
Amy Robach
They were just a verbal altercation.
TJ Holmes
They were. And they got heated.
Amy Robach
And so apparently Shira leaves in a vehicle, and it was described as a large suv, I believe. So he leaves because he's so angry, and then reportedly comes back one minute later and hits his best man, hits his best friend, his groomsman, with the SUV and at a high rate of speed.
TJ Holmes
Okay, so this is now where everybody's story starts to go in different directions. So he claims this was an accident. He did not mean to do it when he did come back. That's his story. The other side. Robes is key to this. They said that one minute, like you had time to de. Escalate, like you. This wasn't a spur of the moment. Oh, my goodness. I can't believe I did that. He said you had time, and they were key robes in their. In their case and in making their case that that was evidence. And they have video as well. But that was evidence for them that you had time to take a beat.
Amy Robach
Yeah. And he fled the scene. Correct.
TJ Holmes
He left the scene afterwards.
Amy Robach
That also is not a good look. You mow down your best man because you're angry at him with your large suv, and you just keep going.
TJ Holmes
So you. So imagine now wedding night robes. This is now what happened. Everybody in the wedding party is aware people are upset. The guy is dead and the groom is missing. He does not show up again to the next day and does not speak to police till the next day. No ropes. It could have been. Yes. He could have been traumatized. He could have been upset. But also, it's not a good look.
Amy Robach
No, not at all. For an innocent person. Yes, for an innocent person. That's always the point there. Because obviously, if he didn't mean to do it, he would have almost certainly jumped out of the vehicle, tried to attend to his friend, see if he was hurt or if he could be, you know, resuscitated, what the damage was, all of that. He didn't. He kept going. And he still maintained, even yesterday during sentencing, that it was a horrific accident. But apparently they can actually show the acceleration that took place. Correct?
TJ Holmes
Yes, they. It was almost. They said the car was aimed at the guy and accelerated. So this. They just say there's just no way. No other way to put it. You. You just made me think Robes, of the case. I can't remember what state it was, but the. The high school teacher that was killed in the prank, and you remember that was an accident. Kids were out there, they toilet papering his house. He comes out, he's apart, and it was slick at the time. I think he tripped and fell into the street. They hit and killed him. You just made me think of it, because they immediately stopped and they got out and tried to help.
Amy Robach
Yes.
TJ Holmes
That's what you do when you have
Amy Robach
an accident, when you don't mean to do something. You do everything in your power to try and help make it better or fix what you just screwed up. But it was interesting because Shira's attorney, in saying that it was an accident. And I just. It's. For me, this just kind of belittled what happened. He's like, there was a fight, there was an argument with alcohol involved. This is a situation where you have friends, lifelong friends, best friends, and things get out of control. Okay, yes, we can all imagine that scenario, but it doesn't end with someone getting behind the wheel of a large vehicle and deliberately running over your friend because you're angry at something he said.
TJ Holmes
What could that fight have been about? Well, how much alcohol could there be? I mean, that's dangerous to get behind the wheel like he did anyway. And Robes, even if this had been an accident, he would have gotten charged with manslaughter, I'm sure, because he's drinking and driving behind the wheel. What could that fight have been over? That a guy that was enough to you in your life, that you want him standing next to you when you get married, that you go from that ceremony to wanting to kill him. What happened?
Amy Robach
I. I can't imagine what that and the fact that they haven't said what it was over is interesting as well. I think the omission of that detail is because everyone does want to know the motive. They do want to know why. So it's interesting that that was not discussed or released in any way. And also just. It's so. It's so awful to think that this young man, I don't know if he had a violent past in any way, but it certainly doesn't seem like he did. And certain, certainly criminally he didn't have anything to point to in terms of violence. But members of Taylor's family got up and gave victim impact statements, and that certainly was part of the reason why the judge gave him the sentence that he did.
TJ Holmes
You know what? I thought they might. Robes honestly did. Thought the. Because the families had known each other, they known each other for a long time, I thought they would go easy.
Amy Robach
Yeah. Like, we don't want two Lives to be lost.
TJ Holmes
They did not.
Amy Robach
They did not.
Cal Penn
The other direction, no.
Amy Robach
So, in fact, a cousin of Terry, this is his quote. When I got to him, all I could see was blood. And then he turned and looked directly at the groom and said, I hope they throw the book at you. So that is where the family was yesterday in court. They want him to pay for what he did.
TJ Holmes
And the judge pretty much did throw the book at him. There was an announcement initially as the judge was trying to explain. And we've seen this plenty before, right, Robes, you can't just go on the first thing he says. You have to let the judge finish because some of this legalese is confusing and mapping it all. But he started out and was talking about 30 to 45 years for something. And the guy just started. Broke down immediately crying in court. Just broke down crying.
Amy Robach
You think he was hoping for a much lesser sentence.
TJ Holmes
He got up and he begged. I hadn't seen this wrote well, since it was a plea. But they brought him in. He was shackled, but they. The judge swore him in. Like standing just as a. At a podium right before the judge. He swore him in. He chose the tooth, the whole truth, and then started asking, would you have something you want to say? And he went through this thing and he didn't say much. And he said, I asked for leniency. You don't hear that a lot. He used that word. I'm asking for leniency. He. I don't know how lenient it ended up being, Robes.
Amy Robach
Not very. Not very. Because he was sentenced to 30 years. Correct.
TJ Holmes
He has to do that at least. Can't even discuss parole before 30 years is out.
Amy Robach
So 30 to 45 is what the official sentence was, but at least 30 without the possibility of parole. That is all. I mean, look, I think about where you were at 24 and now where I am at 53. I mean, that's when he will be getting out.
TJ Holmes
He was supposed to have his whole life ahead of him. Just got married, thinking about family. And what happened on his wedding day ends up being the thing. He's going to be in prison for 30 years for it. But stay here. There was something that stood out and probably stood out to you as well. Robes. We've heard a lot of judges speak to criminals in court. This judge said something that jumped out, but also took me a second to try to piece together. We'll explain what that was. And also Robes mentioned a short time ago, the wife of this man who's now going to prison. Well, she might end up in prison herself. We'll explain. Stay here.
Amy Robach
If you're always on the lookout for a great audiobook or just want help figuring out what to listen to next, there's a podcast you should know about.
Cal Penn
It's called earsay the Audible Audible and iheart Audiobook Club. Hosted by Kal Penn.
Amy Robach
Each episode takes a closer look at some of the most talked about new audiobooks on Audible, spanning a wide range of genres, from sci fi and literary fiction to rom coms, thrillers and comedy.
TJ Holmes
Kyle is joined by guests who dig
Cal Penn
into what these stories are about, what makes them stand out as audiobooks, and why they're connecting with listeners right now.
Amy Robach
If you're looking for your next listen, this is a great place to start.
Cal Penn
Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Amy Robach
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Robert Smigel
Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from from Jim Gaffigan to Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier this week. My guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an acapella band with their between songs banter. Who's the worst singer in the group?
TJ Holmes
The worst?
Robert Smigel
Yeah, me. Is there anything to the idea that because you're from Harvard you only got in because your parents made a huge donation to the group?
TJ Holmes
To the group the Yardbirds, right? That's the name.
Robert Smigel
The Harvard Yard. But they're open.
TJ Holmes
Do you have a name suggestion?
Amy Robach
We're open.
Robert Smigel
Since you guys are middle aged, one erection, listen to Humor Me with Robert Smal and friends on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
TJ Holmes
Humor Me. I need some jokes to make me seem funny.
Amy Robach
Welcome back everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ where we are describ and people talk about Wedding Day Nightmares. This truly is that and then some. This is a story that really is hard to get your head around that this could have happened. But yeah. In Flint, Michigan, a 24 year old groom, James Shira, has just pleaded guilty to killing his best man, his best friend, his groomsman, 29 year old Terry Taylor, who I think, yeah, it is important to point out is, was a father of three with a fourth on the way, had a fiance, had his whole life in front of him. They get into a heated alcohol fueled argument, we don't know what it was about. And James Shira made a decision to come back after taking off in his SUV and ran over, mowed down his best friend who it was described, he actually went airborne. That's how hard he was hit in this moment. And so the judge, when he's asking, please, judge leniency, the judge didn't go there, sentenced him to at least 30 years behind bars. And what he had to say to him was, it sticks with you.
TJ Holmes
Well, I, I've never heard a judge quite put it this way, quote, I believe, Mr. Shira, that you are not a criminal.
Cal Penn
You are, however, a killer.
TJ Holmes
Wow. I mean, damn, it's almost. I am conceding that you're not this monster, this thing. However, the fact remains you made a choice in this moment that was interesting. And I was surprised. Mr. Shira, in court, James Shira, when the judge said it, he was already sitting back down on a bench, shackled, not at a microphone. When the judge said, you are, however, a killer, he responded, no, I'm not, sir. I'm just a bad set of circumstances and was trying to kind of shout out and explain, wasn't being rude, but he reacted to being called a killer in court.
Amy Robach
You know, he, and he, and we mentioned this obviously. Yes, because he believes that it was an accident, that he didn't mean to actually kill his best friend. And so I'm curious, given the sentencing, which is pretty tough, was he thinking that by pleading guilty to a lower charge, a lesser charge, he would get significantly smaller amount of time? And now I'm wondering if he wishes he had gone to trial. If he had tried to prove his case that he wasn't, this wasn't some premeditated act, this wasn't some planned decision or some murder. It was in fact just a tragic accident. I'm surprised if he firmly believes that, that he wouldn't have taken this to trial.
TJ Holmes
Take your chances, right? Isn't that what you do? I can't imagine being a criminal in that position. This High stakes game where your life is on the line. Do you take. Did they know? No, he didn't know ahead of time. So he left it in the hands of a. Of one judge versus 12 jurors. I'm not sure how he came to that conclusion. But. Robes. You would think some attorney out there would say, hey, I can convince 1 out of 12 people that. That you may have done this accidentally. Donna.
Amy Robach
But I. I wonder now. I mean, I'm imagining he has to
TJ Holmes
be thinking that now.
Amy Robach
Yeah. Rethinking his decision to do that. But now, especially considering the fact that his bride, his new bride, is potentially facing time as well. Now there is some sort of deal in the works for her potentially to just be on probation rather than go to prison. But she is still potentially facing prison
TJ Holmes
time and it's a felony that she was charged with being an accessory after the fact, I believe is what they call it. They're not suggesting she was in any way active or wanting the guy dead. But yeah, it was a weird. I know you read it as well. Some weird legally. Some weird legal logistics to get her out of actually serving time. You saw that thing.
Amy Robach
Yes. It was confusing. So it looks like most likely she won't go or won't spend any time in prison, but she will be. She will be on probation and she will have a felony on her record. I would imagine if this all goes through the way they think it is. And did they get into any details? Obviously, he. He fled. So they're implying that somehow she helped hide him or was with him instead of making him turn himself into police or. I'm not really sure what. What she did that was illegal to the point where she's being charged with a felony. But you know, look, this is tough. Your wedding night, your groom, who you've been. So I'm sure they planned this wedding, were excited about having their friends with them. All of a sudden turns incredibly tragic. Everyone's drunk. I'm sure it sounds like everybody was at least. And now she's being charged as well. This is just. This is one of the worst stories I have ever heard.
TJ Holmes
What happens to that marriage.
Amy Robach
It doesn't. It doesn't last. There's. I don't know how you possibly. I wouldn't imagine it would.
TJ Holmes
Just think about that too. Just. It's just a mess. Just tragic. But. But folks, another. I don't know, just another human experience. Robes. Another tragedy. Another story to add to it. But man, that's. That's tough. Just take a beat, right? You just need to take a beat and it split seconds. Something changes your life forever.
Amy Robach
That's, that's where my head went initially. Like, you know, obviously I have a 23 year old. You know, you have older. It's, you know that they're adults. Technically, yes, but their minds are so they're forming and then you add alcohol to it. You add emotion to it with a day like a wedding day. And you just feel so sick that if someone would just take a moment, if you just take time to breathe, I know that's an annoying thing for people, but just take a second. It just, I think it's a reminder to all of us, no matter where we are in life, no matter how old we are, we can all get really angry. And especially if you add alcohol to that mix. Just remind yourselves, is this going to matter in an hour? Is this going to matter in a day? Just take a beat. It could be the difference between life and death, folks.
TJ Holmes
Well, the wife is expected to be sentenced later this month. We'll keep an eye on that as well. We appreciate you, of course, spending some time with us. For my dear Amy Robach on TJ Holmes, we'll talk soon.
Amy Robach
If audiobooks are your thing or you've been meaning to listen to more of them, you should check out a podcast called earsay, the Audible and I Heart Audiobook Club. Hosted by Cal Penn.
Cal Penn
Each episode spotlights standout audiobooks on Audible across all kinds of genres. Sci fi, comedy, romance, thrillers and more. With Cal talking to guests who help break down what makes each story worth listening to.
Amy Robach
It's a fun, easy way to discover your next great audiobook.
Cal Penn
Check out Earsay on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Robert Smigel
Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week. My guests SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an acapella band with their between songs banter.
TJ Holmes
Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.
Robert Smigel
Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and friends on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Amy Robach
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: May 12, 2026
Hosts: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes
Episode Theme:
A shocking, true-crime headline comes to life in Michigan as the hosts break down the case of a groom, James Shira, who killed his best man, Terry Taylor, on his wedding night. The episode examines the tragedy, courtroom drama, family impact, and lingering questions around motive and remorse.
The episode centers on a heart-wrenching real crime that occurred on a wedding night in Flint, Michigan, in August 2024: James Shira, a 24-year-old groom, killed his best friend and best man, 29-year-old Terry Taylor, by hitting him with an SUV after an alcohol-fueled argument. The hosts unpack the crime, its aftermath, and the resulting legal proceedings, reflecting on the broader human and emotional consequences.
| Time | Segment Description | |--------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 02:14 | Introduction to the Michigan groom case | | 03:17–03:55 | Geographic/location and basic case summary | | 04:00–04:40 | Victim and perpetrator background | | 06:43–08:09 | Description of the night of the incident | | 08:09–09:16 | Discrepancies & evidence; groom fleeing the scene | | 09:44–10:57 | Prosecution's case and what could have been different | | 11:27 | Missing motive/discussion on what’s not been revealed | | 12:24 | Victim impact statement | | 13:11–13:54 | Sentencing proceedings | | 18:31 | Judge’s statement at sentencing | | 20:35–21:18 | Bride facing separate charges | | 22:40 | Reflections on tragedy and making better choices | | 23:25 | Ending updates (wife's future sentencing) |
Amy Robach and TJ Holmes’ episode on the Michigan wedding night killing delivers an empathetic, detailed breakdown of a tragic event that derailed multiple lives and stunned both families and the broader community. Through their discussion, they examine the circumstances, reflect on split-second, alcohol-fueled decisions, and emphasize the universal lesson to "take a beat" before acting on anger. The story remains a powerful reminder of the irreversible costs of momentary rage.