What began as a reckless prank turned into a horrific tragedy — one that shattered a family and left a community demanding justice.
On the night of October 18, 2017, a group of five teenagers in Genesee County, Michigan gathered near an I-75 highway overpass. Laughing and daring each other, they began throwing rocks — some weighing over six pounds — at cars passing beneath them.
They called it a game. They called it “overpassing.”
But for Kenneth White, a 32-year-old father of four, that “game” was fatal.
Kenneth was riding home from work in a van when a 6-pound rock smashed through the windshield, striking him in the face and chest. His friend, who was driving, pulled over and frantically called 911 — but it was too late.
Kenneth was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to the head and chest.
Within hours, police tracked down the teenagers responsible: Kyle Anger (17), Mark Sekelsky (16), Mikadyn Payne (16), Trevor Gray (15), and Alexander Miller (15).
At first, the boys claimed it was “just a prank,” insisting they never meant to hurt anyone. But when detectives discovered that they had thrown over 20 rocks at multiple vehicles that night — one of which nearly caused another crash — the story changed.
Prosecutors charged all five as adults.
Kyle Anger, the teen who threw the rock that killed Kenneth, was charged with second-degree murder and later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 3 to 20 years in prison.
The remaining four teens accepted plea deals for manslaughter and related offenses, receiving lighter sentences that included probation and time in juvenile detention.
During sentencing, the courtroom fell silent when Anger apologized to the victim’s family.
But for Kenneth’s loved ones, the pain ran too deep.
His fiancée, Aimee Cagle, spoke through tears:
“You didn’t just take his life — you destroyed ours. You’ll get to go home someday. He won’t.”
The judge, visibly moved, addressed the young men:
“This wasn’t a joke. This was murder disguised as fun. And now, a man is dead because of it.”
The case reignited national outrage over teen “prank culture” and reckless challenges that blur the line between fun and fatality. Parents across America shared the story as a warning — that one impulsive act can destroy multiple lives in seconds.
Today, a memorial stands near the I-75 overpass where Kenneth lost his life — flowers, crosses, and handwritten notes from his children.
They still ask the same question every night:
“Why would someone think this was funny?”