John Michel—sometimes listed in court records as Jon Michel or Michel, Jr.—is more than just a background figure in one of Maryland’s most disturbing and enduring custody disputes. He is a central character in the ongoing legal saga between Jeffrey Reichert and Sarah Hornbeck, currently named as a defendant in Reichert’s federal civil rights lawsuit. As the live-in boyfriend of Hornbeck, and a man whose wife died under highly suspicious circumstances just before Hornbeck moved into his home, Michel has become a lightning rod for controversy, suspicion, and legal scrutiny.

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A Relationship Marked by Questions

John Michel is identified across multiple sources and filings as Sarah Hornbeck’s boyfriend and cohabitant. Reichert has alleged that the relationship began as an extramarital affair, with Michel—who is reportedly 20 years older than Hornbeck—having had a long-standing infatuation with her dating back to their days in law school. According to Reichert, the two reconnected during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah allegedly spotted Michel on a train to D.C., a detail Reichert contests both in terms of timing and context.

More damning than the affair itself are the allegations that Michel’s late wife, Karen Michel, died shortly before—or potentially during—the onset of his relationship with Hornbeck. Karen Michel reportedly died in late July 2020, two days after falling down the stairs in the home the couple shared in Middle River, Maryland. Less than ten days later, on August 6, 2020, Sarah Hornbeck had reportedly moved into that very same home on Clarks Point Road, where she continues to reside with Michel and Grant Reichert.

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Suspicion Surrounding His Wife’s Death

The timing of Sarah’s move-in and the mysterious nature of Karen Michel’s death has fueled speculation and suspicion. According to multiple statements by Jeffrey Reichert and his son, Grant, the circumstances of Karen’s death warrant deeper investigation. Grant has outright stated his belief that “they murdered her,” while Jeff has echoed that sentiment, telling contacts that “they definitely killed her.”

Further complicating the narrative is the suggestion that the life insurance policy from Karen Michel’s death is being used to fund Hornbeck’s ongoing legal campaigns. Reichert has stated that once the policy amount is revealed, it may shed light on how Hornbeck has continued to afford attorney fees for a multi-year legal battle.

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Legal Involvement and Allegations of Perjury

John Michel is a named Pro Se Defendant in Jeffrey Reichert’s federal lawsuit, and his name appears frequently in state court filings. He was present for multiple hearings in Anne Arundel County, including acting as a witness for Hornbeck in front of Judge Alison L. Asti on September 6, 2022.

He was also involved in earlier proceedings where, according to Jeff Reichert, Michel lied under oath by claiming that he and Hornbeck were not cohabiting—an assertion Reichert’s legal team disputed with documented evidence. That alleged falsehood ultimately led to the dismissal of a protective order case due to jurisdictional technicalities.

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Alleged Mistreatment and Control Over Grant Reichert

The most serious claims surrounding John Michel involve his reported treatment of Grant Reichert, Sarah’s son with Jeff. Several filings and first-hand statements from Grant depict a disturbing picture of psychological abuse, intimidation, and neglect:

• In December 2021, Grant successfully obtained a protective order against John Michel.
• In May 2023, Grant called police alleging that John Michel and his mother were drinking, verbally abusive, and physically intimidating.
• Grant has repeatedly expressed a desire to escape from the household, stating in a birthday card to his father that he wanted to get away from John Michel.
• He has told others that John Michel and Sarah physically intimidated and grabbed him, monitored his communications, and forbade him from speaking with his father, under threat of legal action.
• Grant claims he has been used as a pawn in a series of frivolous protective orders and lawsuits against his father, resulting in severe emotional duress and a feeling of false imprisonment.

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Michel’s Ongoing Role in the Custody Dispute

Throughout the years-long custody battle, John Michel has maintained a strong presence—often appearing at hearings, and engaging behind the scenes. He remains involved in ongoing legal matters and is expected to be a pivotal witness—and possibly subject—if the federal lawsuit proceeds into discovery or trial.

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Government Employment and Influence?

John Michel reportedly works for the Maryland government, although his exact role remains unclear. This detail has raised further concerns for Jeff Reichert and those following the case, especially given the lack of action by authorities regarding the suspicious circumstances of Karen Michel’s death and the numerous reports of mistreatment submitted by and on behalf of Grant.

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A Pattern of Silence and Protection?

Despite the grave accusations—from perjury to abuse to potentially playing a role in obstructing Grant’s ability to maintain a relationship with his father—John Michel has faced no reported criminal investigations to date. Many observers question how and why such serious concerns have failed to trigger oversight, accountability, or meaningful court intervention.

Jeff Reichert and his supporters believe this silence is no accident. With connections to state agencies, possible insider legal knowledge from law school, and a close relationship with Hornbeck—who has successfully maneuvered through multiple courts over the years—Michel is viewed as a key enabler in what Reichert describes as a “corrupt custody scheme designed to isolate, silence, and exploit.”

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Final Thoughts

John Michel is not a side character in the Reichert v. Hornbeck case—he is a central figure whose actions, associations, and alleged misconduct have had a profound and lasting impact on the life of Grant Reichert, and the rights of his father. The unanswered questions surrounding his late wife’s death, his direct involvement in family court litigation, and the disturbing accounts of control and coercion paint a picture of a man whose presence in this case deserves far greater scrutiny.

In a custody battle that has become a national symbol of judicial dysfunction, family trauma, and systemic failure, the full truth about John Michel may yet prove to be one of the darkest threads in an already devastating story.