Parents sentenced for aiding son after woman's dismemberment

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — The parents of a man convicted of killing and dismembering a woman in western Michigan have each been sentenced to jail for helping their son dispose of the body parts.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Denenfeld sentenced 65-year-old Barbara Chance to 45 days last Thursday for perjury and for being an accessory after the fact.

James Chance, 78, a retired police officer, was given a month in jail for being an accessory after the fact.

“Each of you must serve some jail time in this case,’’ Denenfeld said.

Denenfield also ordered each to serve one year on probation.

Their son, Jared Chance, is serving a 100-year prison sentence for killing and dismembering Ashley Young in 2018.

Young’s torso was found in the basement of Jared Chance’s Grand Rapids rental home, but other remains of the 31-year-old woman haven’t been located. They knew each other.

Police said James and Barbara Chance picked up their son and drove him 30 miles (50 kilometers) to their Holland home, along with boxes of body parts, a saw and cleaning products. The saw was found under the couple’s couch.

James Chance is a former Rock Island, Illinois, police officer.