June 6, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski, 989.269.9255
On June 5, 2025, a Huron County jury found David Walter Talisman II, 37, guilty of seven felony charges: Home Invasion-1st Degree, Assault with Intent to do Great Bodily Harm Less Than Murder, Interfering with Electronic Communication, Home Invasion-2nd Degree, Unlawful Access of a Computer System, Aggravated Stalking, and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime.
The Investigation
The charges arose out of an investigation by the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department. On July 2, 2024, Sanilac County Central Dispatch received a call for a home invasion that had just occurred on Bay City Forestville Road in Austin Township. The caller advised that her ex-boyfriend, later identified as David Walter Talisman, 37, of Minden City was the perpetrator. Talisman showed up this residence searching for his ex-girlfriend, who had three months prior taken out a personal protection order on him. Talisman forced his way into the home and proceeded to brutally assault the homeowner while his ex-girlfriend hid in the closet of a bedroom. When he located her, she was attempting to call 911 for help; he removed the cell phone from her hand and threw it out of reach. Talisman fled from the scene before police could arrive and the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department issued a “be on the lookout” for him as a person of interest.
The following morning, Talisman’s ex-girlfriend was returning to her home in the City of Bad Axe and saw Talisman’s vehicle parked in front of her home when she turned onto her street. Words were exchanged and Talisman ultimately left the scene; his ex-girlfriend immediately called 911. Bad Axe Police Department Sgt. Nate Flores was en route to the call at her residence when he saw the suspect vehicle turn in front of him onto E. Huron Ave. He, along with Lt. Josh Powell and Sgt. Jake Dhyse of the Huron County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a felony traffic stop and took Talisman into custody. He was arrested at that point for Aggravated Stalking resulting from the numerous personal protection order violations.
Ofc. Phil Deacons of the Bad Axe Police Department, in cooperation with the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a digital forensic examination of Talisman’s cell phone. During the analysis, it was determined that Talisman was indeed present at the Bay City Forestville location at the time of the home invasion as well as at his ex-girlfriend’s home on the morning of his arrest. Ofc. Deacons also discovered that Talisman had been inside his ex-girlfriend’s home immediately before the home invasion. After a forensic examination of her iPad, it was discovered that Talisman had entered her home without permission, accessed her iPad, determined her location in Sanilac County, and immediately drive there and committed the home invasion.
Due to the overlapping jurisdictions, the Huron County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office prosecuted both the Bad Axe Police Department and Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department cases in Huron County.
The Jury Trial
The jury trial started on June 3, 2025, and went into the afternoon of June 5h in the 52nd Circuit Court with Judge Gerald Prill presiding. The case was tried by Prosecuting Attorney Timothy J. Rutkowski assisted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Alexander Pahany. The evidence included the testimony of the responding Sanilac County Sheriff’s Deputies, Dep. Matthew Washe and Dep. Chad Schmidt. The jury also heard from the victims in the case, including the homeowner and Talisman’s ex-girlfriend. The treating emergency department physician, Dr. Brad Blaker, described the homeowner’s injuries when he presented for treatment at McLaren Thumb Region Hospital. The jury watched an interview with Talisman by Detective Sgt. Josh Horst of the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department where Talisman repeatedly insisted his appearance at the residence was coincidental and he was there only to purchase grass clippings from a landscaping business. The jury also heard from Sgt. Nate Flores of the Bad Axe Police Department as to the location and arrest of Talisman, and Ofc. Phil Deacons testified as to the forensic data analysis of the electronic devices.
After approximately 30 minutes of deliberation, a jury of six women and six men found Talisman guilty of all counts. After the verdict, there was a short bond hearing to determine if the defendant’s bond should be revoked. The Court heard argument from the attorneys, and ultimately revoked Talisman’s bond and remanded him to the Huron County Jail. Sentencing was set for August 11, 2025, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
When asked about the case, Timothy Rutkowski, Huron County Prosecutor noted:
I would like to thank both the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department and the Bad Axe Police Department for their tireless efforts in delivering justice for these two victims. Both of these departments and their Deputies, Detectives, and Officers exhibit the highest levels of professionalism and their investigative skills ensured that this defendant was appropriately brought to justice swiftly and efficiently. I would also like to thank APA Alexander Pahany for his work in trying this case alongside me.
