Eminem's mom carjacked -- on 8 Mile

[Allan]

Eminem's mom carjacked -- on 8 Mile

January 24, 2004

BY FRANK WITSIL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Eminem's mom, Debbie Nelson, was carjacked late Thursday while getting gas at an Oak Park station on -- of all places -- 8 Mile Road.

"It's a little ironic," said Oak Park Police Lt. John McNeilance. The semi-autobiographical movie that boosted the profile of Marshall Mathers III, also known as Eminem, was called "8 Mile."

McNeilance said Nelson, 49, of Dryden, formerly Debbie Mathers, stopped her 2002 Honda Accord at the BP station at 8 Mile and Coolidge around 11:30 p.m. to get gas.

Police said Nelson was in her car when James Knott, 16, of Detroit allegedly pointed a nickel-plated handgun at her and told her to get out of the car and leave her purse.

Knott, who was later arrested and charged with carjacking and armed robbery, grabbed Nelson as she got out, scratching her left wrist, and drove off in her car, McNeilance said.

Nelson went to a pay phone and dialed 911. A friend later drove her home.

Police spotted the car minutes later at 7 Mile and Greenfield in Detroit. They followed it several blocks, McNeilance said.

At Greenfield and James Couzens, Knott allegedly got out of the car and fled. He was caught after a brief foot chase.

He was arraigned Friday in 45th District Court in Oak Park. Carjacking and armed robbery carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment.

Eminem grew up with his mother in Detroit. She had sued her son alleging she was defamed in song lyrics after he became famous, and settled in 2001 for $25,000.

On Wednesday, Eminem's ex-wife, Kim Mathers, 28, of Clinton Township was sentenced to probation for drug-related offenses in Macomb County Circuit Court. She pleaded guilty to charges related to a June traffic stop.

Contact FRANK WITSIL at 248-351-3690 or at [email protected].

[M. Brown]

funny

[Allan]

Yeah, I found it rather ironic. In reality though, 8 Mile Road isn't nearly as bad as most people think it is. There are much much worse places in the city than that.