This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
Novi — A Rochester Hills internal medicine doctor has been sent to stand trial on charges that he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl and recorded himself doing it
Novi District Court Judge David Law said Friday he found there was probable cause for Dr
Oumair Aejaz to stand trial on all 17 felonies he is charged with: two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct
three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct
three counts of aggravated child sexually abusive activity
six counts of using a computer to commit a crime and three counts of capturing or distributing an image of an unclothed person
did not argue against sending the case to Oakland County Circuit Court
She said it was a question of fact for the jury to consider
Lehman said Aejaz did not want to hold the preliminary examination Friday
and that it was being held at the prosecution's request
Tabassum reported Aejaz to police, and when his phone was confiscated as a part of a search warrant, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Chad Allan testified Friday that he found videos on Aejaz's phone that depicted the sexual assault of a minor child, appearing to be about 5 or 6 years old.
There were videos of Aejaz — who police identified in the video by a freckle on his knuckle — touching the child's genitalia and buttocks, Allan said. There also were videos of the child using the bathroom, as well as "clip art" made from the videos of the child.
"It was clear to me that the defendant used his left hand to touch the child’s clothing and to touch the child’s genitalia and butt," Allan said.
Prosecutors previously said the videos of the girl were recorded in 2023 and 2024.
The victim’s mother testified first Friday, but Judge David Law closed the courtroom for her testimony at the prosecution’s request.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office has called the case against Aejaz "the tip of the iceberg," believing there could be hundreds of other victims.
Aejaz has already been ordered to stand trial in the case involving Goldfish Swim School, where he is accused of secretly recording several children and at least two adults in the changing rooms.
In that case, he is facing one count of child sexually abusive activity, seven counts of computer use to commit a crime and six counts of capturing/distributing image of an unclothed person.
Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world
says Trump’s Mexico and Canada tariffs will cause a hit to his city’s coffers — and its auto industry
says he thinks his region will be one of hardest hit by President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
2025 at 6:16 PM ESTBookmarkSaveTakeaways NEWThere’s long been a steady flow of workers
auto parts and supplies traveling between the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills
the city of 76,000 relies on trade with the country to keep its automotive industry humming and its local infrastructure running
So when US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico on Tuesday
rocking the stock market and sparking retaliatory measures
Mayor Bryan Barnett says the move also made waves in Rochester Hills
As these tariffs loomed and since they’ve come into effect
Barnett has been talking to business leaders
and his own city staff about what these levies could mean for everything from the local job market to the local budget
Though there’s a deep sense of uncertainty around how long these tariffs might last
he said: “Prices are gonna change pretty dramatically
and I think our region’s going to be one of the hardest hit.”
2025 at 7:56 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The new restaurant will open next Thursday at 2111 N Squirrel Rd between Walton Boulevard and University Drive
MI — Chick-fil-A is opening a new restaurant in Auburn Hills next week
The new restaurant will open next Thursday
between Walton Boulevard and University Drive
The site is where the former Macaroni Grill Restaurant was for 20 years
The restaurant is locally owned and operated by Greg Russell
a metro Detroit native and former youth basketball coach in the area
from coaching basketball to serving in Chick-fil-A restaurants
has prepared me for becoming a local Owner-Operator
and I am so grateful for the opportunity," Russell said
"My goal is to cultivate a place where love is at the center of everything we do – serving our Guests with care
supporting our Team Members and giving back to the community."
The new Chick-fil-A in Auburn Hills comes as the restaurant plans to open between 25-30 new restaurants in Michigan over the next few years
It also joins 15 other restaurants in the Detroit area
including nearby locations in Shelby Township and Troy
The popular fast-food restaurant is best known for its chicken sandwiches
waffle fries and signature Chick-fil-A dipping sauce
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
1/73Ypsilanti Arbor Prep girls basketball faces Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest in championship game.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Hugh Bernreuter | hbernreu@mlive.comYpsilanti Arbor Prep
emerged as the Division 3 girls basketball state champion
Arbor Prep claimed back-to-back state titles and its third in four years
holding Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest to 21 points to earn a 32-21 win Saturday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center
with Lutheran Northwest shooting just 7 of 40 from the floor (17.5 percent) and 1 of 14 from the 3-point line (7.1 percent)
making just 11 of 31 from the floor (35.5 percent) and 6 of 14 from the free-throw line (42.9 percent) from the free-throw line
But Angela Meggison carried 17-12 Arbor Prep with a double-double
in the second quarter to take a 13-10 halftime lead
Lutheran Northwest (21-7) only scored three points in the third quarter
giving Arbor Prep a 22-13 lead going into the fourth quarter
The Gators extended the lead to 13 points in the final minute of the game
Addie Troska led the Crusaders with eight points
while Charlotte Gramzow scored five points with seven rebounds
Morgan Griswold followed with six points and six rebounds
Lutheran Northwest made its first appearance in a state final
while Arbor Prep’s state title is its fourth and third in the last four seasons
The Gators also own girls basketball state titles in 2016
6:33 - Arbor Prep scores first on a jumper by Angela Megisson
4:47 - Northwest takes a 3-2 lead on a free throw by Morgan Griswold
4:18 - Megisson gets the jumper for a 4-3 Arbor Prep lead and draws an early second foul on Northwest center Keaira Spiehs
3:14 - Northwest’s Addie Troska makes a free throw to tie the game at 6-6
0:00 - Arbor Prep and Northwest are tied at 8-8 to end the first quarter
Angela Meggison has six of Arbor Prep’s eight points
5:57 - Morgan Griswold knocks down a pair of free throws for a 10-8 lead for Northwest
3:50 - Arbor Prep owns an 11-10 lead after a 3-pointer by Eliza Bush
and it pays off with a Jalaya Banks bucket for a 13-10 lead
0:00 - Arbor Prep has a 13-10 lead going into halftime of the D3 girls basketball final
Angela Megisson leads Arbor Prep with six points
7:20 - Northwest scores first in the second half on a layup from Charlotte Gramzow
5:33 - Eliza Bush with back-to-back 3s for Arbor Prep for a 19-12 Arbor Prep lead
0:00 - Angela Meggison gets fouled on a 3-pointer at the buzzer and makes two free throws for a 22-13 lead going into the fourth quarter
4:30 - Addie Troska scores on a layup for Northwest
Lowest score for a single team in a final is 20 by Bellaire in a 57-20 loss to Fowler in 2021
Lowest combined score is 47 in 26-21 Frankfort-Portland St
1:51 - Angela Meggison with a layup to give Arbor Prep a 28-18 lead with 1:51 left in the game
0:48 - Jourdin Lewis knocks down a 3-pointer for a 31-18 Arbor Prep lead
essentially securing back-to-back state titles
0:36.7 - Morgan Griswold makes a 3-pointer
the first of the game for Northwest to cut the Arbor Prep lead to 31-21
0:00 - In one of the lowest-scoring state finals in girls basketball state finals history
Arbor Prep goes back-to-back with a 32-21 win over Lutheran Northwest
Angela Meggison with 11 points and 10 rebounds
Addie Troska scores eight to lead Lutheran Northwest
If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters
Love reading about local sports? Don’t miss any of the excitement from the season ahead. Purchase your subscription now and get full access to every story on MLive
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025)
© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us)
The material on this site may not be reproduced
except with the prior written permission of Advance Local
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here
Ad Choices
fudge – you’ll never guess who’s coming to town for the holidays
Emagine Rochester Hills will host a special screening of the 1983 yuletide classic “A Christmas Story,” including a Q&A with actors Zack Ward and Yano Anaya
who played the infamous Scut Farkus and Grover in the film
Based on the humorous writings of author Jean Shepherd
the beloved holiday movie follows the wintry exploits of youngster Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley)
who spends most of his time dodging a bully (Zack Ward) and dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift
Frequently at odds with his cranky dad (Darren McGavin) but comforted by his doting mother (Melinda Dillon)
Ralphie struggles to make it to Christmas Day with his glasses and his hopes intact
Emagine’s one-night-only event will offer fans of all ages the chance to enjoy a festive
nostalgic evening complete with exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and a VIP meet-and-greet opportunity to meet the stars and get autographs
The evening will kick off with the Q&A session at 8 p.m.
followed by the movie screening at 8:30 p.m
The VIP meet and greet will take place from 4 – 7:30 p.m
and both professional and selfies with up to four people
The meet and greet package does not include access to the Q&A movie screening event
Tickets for both events are available now and can be purchased online at emagine-entertainment.com
The theater is located at 200 Barclay Circle
Ohio is home to the A Christmas Story House and Museum
The house used for exterior shots in the film has been meticulously restored to capture the essence of the movie’s setting and offers year-round tours and even the option for overnight stays
costumes and artifacts from the movie on-site is the actual Daisy BB gun used onscreen as Ralphie's dream "official Red Ryder carbine action
range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time."
Daisy was based in Plymouth, Michigan for many decades before moving to Arkansas in 1958
Learn more at housefromachristmasstory.com
Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com
(WXYZ) — A Rochester Hills driver is dead after crossing the center line and crashing into another vehicle in Oakland Township on Sunday morning
Police tell us it happened around 9:30 a.m.
on Rochester at Lonesome Oak Drive in the Oakland Valley Subdivision
Investigators tell us that 90-year-old William Stanley Jr
was heading southbound on Rochester Road when he crossed his GMC Sierra over the center line
The other driver involved in the crash was not injured
Police say the road was extremely icy at this time
and that neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash
MI – Rochester Hills is celebrating a rare accomplishment in municipal government – being debt free
With the last payment having been sent of $227,000
the Rewold Drain Millage is paid off and the City no longer has any outstanding financial obligations
Mayor Bryan Barnett says they’re likely the only city of their size in Michigan to have achieved such a feat
“This means that all 100 pennies of every dollar coming in are deployed to do projects and provide services in our community,” Barnett said
“That gives us tremendous flexibility
and we have some of the best infrastructure in the region
We’ve positioned ourselves to have all of the best options.”
He credits making financially conservative decisions for the city’s success
“Debt is not necessarily a bad thing
But it also helps to make thoughtful decisions
We plan ahead for expenses and we save up enough money to buy the things we need.”
This has included purchasing parks and dedicated green space
It also helps that the City never had a pension program
born out of what was known as Avon Township
And from the beginning they offered defined contribution plans which did not have legacy costs to the city after employees retired
The City has also outsourced policing services to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office where costs were predictable based on contracts
Home values continue to rise in Rochester Hills
with taxable value increasing 6% each year over the past five years
In 2023 the city was awarded a $75 million grant to work with developers on remediating former landfill properties which will add housing to the community
and create jobs in the process Barnett said
Looking for grants and partnership opportunities such as that have long been part of the city’s plans
the development aspect hasn’t been the driving force of the city’s economic plans
just part of the bigger picture of creating community
“We’ve purchased green space and invested in our parks because we know that is part of what makes Rochester Hills a place that people want to live
Property values are high because people want to live in a city that provides amenities
The Mayor credited City Council with making smart financial decisions
“This is a huge historical moment for our city that happened with a thoughtful financial plan that our team executed well
Our CFO Joe Snyder and his team have helped create this path we’re on,” Barnett said
“And we still have the second lowest tax rate in Oakland County [following City of Troy].”
the obvious question is how long with this last
Are there any costs coming up that could require a millage or bond
Barnett noted that while they can’t predict everything
“We’re not kicking the can on anything,” he said
Though there are two areas where residents will be faced with some decisions about how their tax money should be spent
First is the increase in the cost of policing services though Oakland County. In November the twelve municipalities that contract with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office were notified that new contracts – starting at the beginning of this year – would be increased to match the administrative costs of service
“This is a 35-36% increase for us over the next three years,” Mayor Barnett said
“We’re going to have to increase funding for police
And we’ll have to ask residents how they want to handle it.”
Some communities have gone to voters with dedicated public safety millages
and that is possibility for Rochester Hills as well
“We’re starting to look at these increased costs
to try and find a solution,” he said
“It’s not sustainable to maintain the cost without cutting somewhere else
But ultimately it will be the residents who decide the direction council will take.”
Second is sussing out the desire for more improvements to local parks
“I have an ambitious plans to invest in our parks
and we may look at funding options for that,” Mayor Barnett said
is more than just a place with trees and trails
There’s a large playground with equipment for kids (and adults) of all ages
boardwalks that are maintained for year-round access
a pond circled by a pathway adorned with glow in the dark stones
and in progress is a new year-round restroom facility
“We want to take what we’ve done at Innovation Hills and look at what more we can do at our other parks
There’s no plan to bond at this time
but we may at some point ask residents if they want to invest more,” he said
“We can’t rest on our laurels if we want to remain the best.”
And although the work of municipal governance is never done
it’s important to recognize successes – especially such a rare accomplishment for a city of nearly 33 square miles and over 76,000 people
“It’s like when you pay off the mortgage on your house,” Mayor Barnett said
“That’s something to be proud of.”
For more on the City of Rochester Hills, visit https://www.rochesterhills.org
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
A second suspect was arrested Monday in the slaying of a Rochester Hills businessman inside his home after two men posed as DTE utility workers
the Oakland County Sheriff's Office announced
Social media posts stated the fugitive apprehension team found the second suspect as he was traveling Monday afternoon in Plymouth Township and made a traffic stop
with assistance from the Detroit Fugitive Task Force
was being held in Louisiana after Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office deputies made a traffic stop over the weekend
The men are suspected in the death Friday of Hussein Murray, 72, and the imprisonment of Murray's wife
after posing as DTE workers checking for a gas leak at the couple's home
The men are suspected of also going to the house Thursday night
The men were allowed in when they returned before noon the next day at the couple's home in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive
Murray went to the basement with the men to check the supposed leak and his wife never saw him again
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard previously said there was a 911 call from the wife
She told deputies she believed her husband may have been kidnapped
but deputies found his body in the basement
The wife had been tied up and her hands bound with duct tape
The sheriff's office said it was difficult at the scene to tell how he died
"I continue to be super proud of our team and their tireless efforts to pursue the suspects and take them off the street as quickly as possible," Bouchard said in a release Monday
adding: "We continue to work every detail and expect the defendants to be held fully accountable for their heinous actions."
Bouchard told the Free Press a white pickup truck authorities had been seeking in connection with the homicide was found in Detroit the day of the crime
The vehicle was unoccupied and had been "severely damaged," Bouchard said
Murray owned Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck
the business thanked everyone for the heartfelt condolences
calls and comments and shared a news story about Hernandez's arrest
indicating: "One down one to go Gold and Glitter family.
All praise belongs to God!" A post Monday again thanked people for the outpouring of support and provided information about the funeral
viewing and commemoration services for Murray
His family told the Free Press in a statement over the weekend that Murray had a "heart of gold" and treated everyone with kindness and compassion
Caddo Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested Hernandez after receiving information about 4 p.m. Saturday that a male suspect wanted for a homicide was heading southbound on Interstate 49 from Arkansas. Deputies went to I-49 and spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, according to a news release on its website
A deputy pulled over the vehicle on I-49 at LA Hwy 169
Hernandez was arrested without incident and taken to the Caddo Correctional Center
booked on multiple warrants out of Ohio for armed robbery as well as a homicide warrant out of Oakland County
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office listed Hernandez as an inmate in an online posting Monday
Bouchard told the Free Press there was nothing authorities could talk about in terms of statements Hernandez may have made
He said Texas was a "good potential destination" for Hernandez as he had been there before
Hernandez waived extradition during a hearing Monday in First Judicial District Court in Shreveport before Judge Ramona Emanuel
14 for Michigan authorities to pick him up
Hernandez is charged with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills
The underlying felony on the murder charge is robbery
Hernandez was imprisoned by the Michigan Department of Corrections
A man with the same name and date of birth has criminal convictions in Michigan for several crimes including weapons
fleeing the police and a sex offense with a minor
Bouchard did not know the specifics of the charges Hernandez is facing in Ohio
but said authorities there were able to help make the search for him nationwide
He said authorities were "running fast and hard" based on the different information and tips they were receiving on the second suspect and the case
Bouchard said Michigan authorities won't know the motive for the slaying until they have both suspects in their custody
Based on what what he has seen in other cases
Bouchard said it's possible the suspects targeted the small business owner's house for cash or jewelry
He said no neighbors had a knock at their homes
leading authorities to believe this was a targeted situation
He said it's "still a work in progress" when asked whether anything was taken from the home
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com
Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters
(WXYZ) — A Rochester Hills couple is thankful to be alive after escaping a house fire late last month
The couple was trapped in an upstairs bedroom with no escape
until a firefighter who was off duty just happened to be driving by
Chris Ogg with the Rochester Hills Fire Department said
"The right place at the right time for sure.”
Ogg was off duty in his own car driving down John R near Avon roads when a home caught his eye
I saw smoke coming from a window and then realized I could see two people in the window with smoke coming out of it,” Ogg said
What Ogg saw was a couple trapped upstairs who had no way out
He found a ladder next to the house and propped it up to the window
they were out before the firetruck arrived
“Our first truck was on scene within four minutes," Ogg said
"I look back at it and I don't know that they would have had four minutes in that window with the amount of smoke and everything pushing out.”
Ogg says it wasn’t just him who saved the day; the couple inside did everything right
that woke them up and let them know there was a problem
Once they got to the door and realized there was an issue
that bought them the extra time they needed in order to get rescued
And also getting to the window and making attention
so you can get the right people on the way,” Ogg said
They are still recovering and declined to interview just yet but had a message they wanted to share
"My family and I are forever grateful for Lt
he did not hesitate and because of his bravery
I am able to kiss my children goodnight," the woman said in a text message
"It’s not very often on the job you get a rescue in a situation like that
but being off the job and getting it is even more mind boggling.”
Royal Oak — Janek Bebout grinned as he cued up his instrument
as proud and prepared with his jar of hot-pink slime as any classically trained musician making an orchestral debut
Lift it slightly so an air pocket forms at the base of its container
I bet if you had let that one rip it would feel good."
The third-grader's peal of laughter at the flatulent sound he made with a jar of slime was integral to Friday's press conference at the children's wing of Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak
where Janek and his grandmother Barbara Soffin donated 2,409 containers of slime to pediatric patients
Each container is topped with a sticker that says "Janek's laughter."
Janek, his 4-year-old brother, Julen, and their mother, Johanna Bebout, were among the nine people injured in a mass shooting last summer at a Rochester Hills splash pad
a two-week hospital stay and repeated tests
The Rochester Hills resident is blind as a result of his injury and uses a cane to navigate the world
Janek's effervescent attitude touched the medical team that took on the highly emotional job of caring for a child who had been among those injured in a mass shooting
a child life specialist at Corewell in Royal Oak
She said Janek and his brother Julen were "an inspiration" to everyone who worked with them
"Even though (Janek) was going through such a hard thing
he brought laughter and he brought smiles to every nurse and every doctor and every surgeon that walked in his room and took care of him," Lefkof said
"It just made you want to keep going back."
Slime was integral to the laughter and smiles
One of her tricks for raising the spirits of hospitalized children
is to encourage them to find lighthearted ways to mess with their caregivers
He explained his method: "A doctor came in
and I put the slime under my blanket and then I made a fart noise
Seeing Janek return to the hospital in good health and with a mission to share joy with other patients is moving
although she's not sure where she'll store the thousands of jars of donated slime
"I think our favorite thing is being able to see our patients come back doing well," Lefkof said
just rocking it with his cane and feeling good
but wanting to give back to other children that are going through hard times
Finding toys Janek would enjoy after he lost his sight was a learning curve for the family
She scrambled to find something to entertain him in the hospital and landed on a little container of slime
and he belly-laughed because it made 'boy noises,' like fart sounds
the sound of Janek making those "boy noises" echoing in the background
my son hit his knees and he cried and said 'Mama
Janek told Soffin he wanted to collect slime for the other kids who were hospitalized
and before Christmas wrote a post on Facebook asking her friends to help Janek's wish come true
"I couldn't even open my front door at one point in time," Soffin said
"I think we cleaned Amazon out (of slime)."
the children's television network that cornered the market on slime entertainment in the 1980s
takes up the charge and donates slime to kids in hospitals around the country
Soffin said Janek and his family are recovered from their physical injuries
They're now focused on their emotional recovery
"By laughing today and having fun with slime
it might be simple to some people," she said
(WXYZ) — The two men who are charged with allegedly murdering a man in Rochester Hills after posing as DTE workers will stand trial in the case
Judge Laura Polizzi bound over 37-year-old Carlos Hernandez and 39-year-old Joshua Zuazo in the alleged murder of Hussein Murray
The preliminary hearing took place on Tuesday morning in Rochester Hills
was the first to take the stand in the case
Linva Murray testified that the two men who are charged came to their door and said they were DTE employees checking for a gas leak
She testified that Hernandez and Zuazo came on Oct
10 and said they were investigating a gas leak
and then said they'd come back the next day
Her husband was going to show them where the basement was
Watch Linva's entire testimony in the video below:
Hussein was leading Zuazo and Hernandez down the stairs and she said they were downstairs for about 10 to 15 minutes before both men came back upstairs
'where is the jewelry?' and I said 'at the bank at the safety deposit box,'" Linva Murray testified
where is my husband?' I didn't get a response
She said he covered her mouth and then eventually they sat at the kitchen table
She testified that Hernandez took her watch off
her car keys and that he went through her purse and took the cash
but Hernandez taped up her legs and wrists with black duct tape
while Zuazo was upstairs in the master bedroom and she said she could hear drawers hitting the floor
Hear testimony from a deputy in the video below:
Other testimony in the first part of the hearing came from a deputy
a forensic investigator and a medical examiner
the deputy chief medical examiner in Oakland County
testified that Hussein Murray's body had not been touched after the scene
He had duct tape around his hands and feet
Also zip ties around his hands and paper bags covering his hands
she found blunt force injuries to his head — bruising to the face
cuts to the jaw and scalp and a fractured jaw
Hear more from the medical examiner and others in the videos below
The final witness to testify before lunch was Danielle Diaz
One suspect was wearing a mask while the other was hiding in the background as they rang the doorbell of the Murray family home in Rochester Hills
their attempt to conceal identities didn’t stop them both from being caught in a matter of days
37-year-old Carlos Hernandez and 39-year-old Joshua Zuazo
are facing charges for murder and unlawful imprisonment
They allegedly pretended to be DTE utility workers looking for gas leaks to gain access to the home in a planned robbery attempt
Watch our previous report when Hernandez was charged in the video below:
Austin Rogers' parents live near the home in the house he grew up in
“Definitely a relief for the street and also for the city and the entire area,” Rogers said of the arrests
which he noted happened quicker than he expected
“I was very surprised and very happy they were off the streets and very happy they were charged with what they’re charged with.”
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Video shows fake DTE workers accused of killing man
the two men are accused of killing the 72-year-old homeowner Hussein Murray
Murray’s wrists and legs were found duck taped
His 72-year-old wife was also duck taped upstairs as the suspects demanded she tell them where they kept the jewelry and cash
Hernandez allegedly hit her when she screamed
Investigators believe the family was targeted because they owned a pawn shop and jewelry store in Hamtramck
They say there's no indication the Murray's knew the two suspects
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'It’s been like hell.' Family of Slain Rochester Hills man speaks out as suspects are arrested
it was because they were small business owners," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said
"We've seen that kind of targeting on jewelry stores and cash-driven businesses in the past
so that's our working thought at this point.”
Bouchard says getting the Ring doorbell video out to the public was crucial in tracking down the suspects
WATCH: Scene video of man arrested in Louisiana after alleged murder in Rochester Hills (courtesy KTBS in Shreveport)
“Those images really started bringing tips in because he was very recognizable even with the mask,” Bouchard said
"We got some information and the breadcrumbs kind of led us to different addresses or houses or potential cars
and one thing led to another on both these folks.”
Zuazo will appear in Rochester Hills court on Friday for his arraignment
Gerald Barr had been bowling for 71 years when he finally bowled his first perfect game
during his weekly league at Universal Lanes in Warren
It was an unbelievable feat that caught the attention of the local media
which spent a day at the lanes with Barr a week after the second 300
"Jerry lived a full and incredible life until the very end," said Dave Robinson
a friend and fellow member at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak
where Barr maintained a 13 handicap until recent years
He had a 200 average in bowling until recent years
"Few among us can say they kept a solid golf handicap while bowling not one
He was an inspiration to the members at Red Run."
who grew up in Detroit and attended Denby High School
and was a league member (sometimes multiple leagues a year) for more than 50 years
He had some close calls with perfect games over the years
▶ FROM THE ARCHIVES: At 84, Rochester Hills man bowls first 300 — then, amazingly, throws another
"I never thought a hell of a lot about a 300," he told The Detroit News in 2023
Now he's stuck with me," Geralt told The News in 2023."I had tears in my eyes."
credited a lifetime of taking care of himself for the reason behind his athletic success in his 80s
where he and wife Karen honeymooned in 1963
He was retired from a long career in the tool-and-die industry
Asked by The News what he did when he wasn't bowling ― he competed in tournaments into his 80s
and he wasn't shy of drinking a Bud Light at the lanes ― or golfing
a teammate of Barr's in the Detroit Athletic Club tournaments and an opponent in the Red Run league at Universal Lanes
Barr is survived by his wife of 61 years Karen
A funeral service was held earlier this week
the family requests donations to the Evans Scholarship Fund at Red Run
In case you didn’t know, today is National Pancake Day, a day to enjoy the yummy sweet treat. In honor of the day, Dime Store, located in Rochester Hills, is offering a specially made pancake.
In addition to their unique brunch offerings, today they launched their Blueberry Crumble Pancake, with blueberry compote, lemon-almond shortbread crumble, and vanilla whipped cream.
The staff says they pride themselves on providing one-of-a-kind dishes that are always fresh. “First and foremost we like everything made from scratch…flavor is first,” said Aris Nueva Espana, Chef Manager.
Dime Store has two locations in Downtown Detroit and Rochester Hills.
To see more of what they have to offer, click the video above.
Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines
TV Listings
Email Newsletters
RSS Feeds
Contests and Rules
Contact Us
Careers at WDIV
Closed Captioning / Audio Description
Public File
Current EEO Report
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell My Info
FCC Applications
Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group
a local senior living organization is seeking the community's help to bring their residents joy
I met up with American House's Jacob Shorkey to hear about the 'Adopt A Senior' program
"So it's a program for local seniors that are in rehab
and so just trying to find something that would bring joy to them," said Shorkey
corporate sales specialist at American House Senior Living Communities
Shorkey works for American House in Rochester Hills
the 28-year-old aims to buy gifts for over 200 seniors housed in the city and make them feel special
"We think about kids during the holidays a lot
And working in senior living and going to rehabs and nursing homes
there are a lot of lonely seniors out there and during this time of the year in general," Shorkey said
The Village is one of the many senior living locations managed by American House
That's why these two residents are on Shorkey's shopping list
"We are known as the Carols," said Carol Schraeger
She was a principal at Pembroke Elementary in Birmingham
And I was her secretary for almost 10 years," said Carol Petersen
"How many years has it been since you guys haven't celebrated Christmas with family?" I asked Schraeger
so I've not been with the family for 8 years on Christmas day," Schraeger replied
and they have their own family," Petersen replied
both Carols had around three family visits
it sounds like you have each other," I said
"Each other and as well as the others," said Schraeger
to have her in my life all year round," Petersen said
and they have so much to share with others
and they create that little family," Shorkey said
Shorkey says the budget is around $25 per senior. And the aim, like last year, is to get 400 gifts for seniors in Rochester Hills alone. Click here for the program's Amazon gift list
You can also deliver gifts to American House Villages of Rochester Hills Community
2025 at 2:06 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}It will be the second Aldi store in Rochester Hills
The first store opened at 1106 Rochester Road in November 2019
MI — Aldi is opening a new store in Rochester Hills as part of the grocer's plan to invest $13 million in Michigan
according to a news release from Michigan Community Capital
The new Rochester Hills store will open in the Adams Marketplace Plaza, near the intersection of Adams Road and Michigan 59, sometime by the end of the year, according to a C&G Newspaper report
"It's a great spot for it," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett told the outlet
"I think it will breathe some new life into that center and I think it will be a big win for that area."
It will be the second Aldi store in Rochester Hills
Other Aldi stores are planned to open in Hillsdale and Midland
A Pontiac man with a lengthy criminal history was arraigned Friday on felony charges stemming from a string of home invasions and thefts in Rochester Hills
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the arrest of Franky Steven Humpkins
is the latest example of a repeat offender who should have still been behind bars
"I am proud of our team and the work and many hours they put into identifying
locating and arresting this habitual offender,” Bouchard said in a statement
once again we have an individual with multiple arrests for illegal weapons back out in the street
"He was actually out on probation for weapons charges AND on bail with additional weapons charges when we arrested him with yet another weapon
Thank heavens no one was hurt during this crime spree he committed in Rochester Hills," the sheriff added
who Bouchard said had been charged with weapons offenses seven times in just over nine years
Humpkins has prior felony convictions for fraud
He was released on bond after being charged with felony firearm possession in Grand Rapids' 61st District Court
He's also on probation in relation to a felony firearm possession charge in Kent County's 17th Circuit Court
Bouchard said Humpkins is a suspect in more than 25 incidents between Dec
where he allegedly broke into unlocked homes and vehicles
A tip ultimately led to his arrest Thursday in Pontiac
A loaded Sig Sauer pistol was found in his vehicle during the arrest
Humpkins is currently being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $1 million bond set Friday by Magistrate Marie Soma in Rochester Hills' 52-3 District Court
he faces five counts of attempted home invasion
two counts of breaking and entering and one count each of credit card fraud
carrying a concealed weapon and prohibited person in possession of a firearm
he could spend the rest of his life in prison
@max_detroitnews
Auto supplier Webasto says it’s closing a plant in Rochester Hills
a subsidiary of Germany’s Webasto Group that the Free Press previously reported is a supplier for the Ford Mustang and Bronco
announced in a recent filing with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity that the job losses would begin on Feb
“This plant closure is expected to be permanent and the entire plant will be closed
The subject Webasto Plant is not currently part of a union
there are no bumping rights for affected employees,” according to a letter signed by Corey Stowell
in a statement supplied by spokeswoman Debra Ortisi
said an analysis of its Americas region network showed it doesn't make economic sense to keep operating the plant
"It is the oldest plant from a technological perspective in the Americas region
A significant investment would be required to continue manufacturing roof systems at this location at competitive prices
the difficult decision to close the plant was made
Employees at the plant were informed of the closure in early 2024," the company said
noting that demand is growing for its products in North America but that "like many automotive suppliers
the company is currently in a challenging situation with increasing cost pressure."
It noted that current items produced at the plant would move to other company facilities in the Americas region
can apply for positions at other Webasto plants where openings may exist
Webasto has multiple plants in metro Detroit and announced 218 layoffs late last year at its New Hudson facility and “Detroit plant” located in Plymouth Township
The notices to the state in those cases described the layoffs as a “direct result of a reduction in production
The supplier, which had garnered attention previously because of issues with removable hardtops for the then-new Ford Bronco
had been in the news earlier in the year as workers attempted to unionize
The company said in a statement after the unsuccessful union vote that “a majority of our colleagues decided that they prefer to continue to communicate openly and solve problems with us directly as in the past and without third-party intervention."
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters
(WXYZ) — Two suspects claiming to be DTE workers killed a homeowner and restrained his wife with duct tape at a home in Rochester Hills on Friday
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said this happened on Newcastle Drive near Adams and Dutton roads
but the sheriff's office said they should be considered dangerous
the sheriff's office identified the victim as 72-year-old Hussein Murray
WATCH: Sheriff releases Ring doorbell video of the suspects at the victims' home
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard says the two men
who had a white pickup truck with a DTE placard
rolled up to the house Thursday night and tried to get in but were denied
claiming that they were investigating a gas leak in the area
Bouchard says the husband went to the basement with the workers but never came up again
The wife reportedly told officials that the men came upstairs
bound her with duct tape and looked through the house for about 20 minutes before leaving the scene
The wife is currently at the hospital recovering
Chopper 7 was over the scene on Friday afternoon
Bouchard said authorities were processing the scene
Officials say the 72-year-old victim was a business owner in Wayne County
7 News Detroit learned he owned Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck
His cause of death was yet determined as of Friday night due to extent of his injuries and the amount of blood found at the scene
Related Video: Watch Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard provide an update on the Rochester Hills murder
cared about his neighborhood and his community
No one should ever be a target of this,” Bouchard said
The sheriff said the department believes the incident was targeted
they're not just knocking on doors and doing this
We think they were specifically looking to violate this family and obviously
the one link we're looking at initially is because they own a business," Bouchard said
“We’re going to check every direction and every potential motive.”
Investigators accessed Ring doorbell video of the victims' home after working for hours to obtain it while waiting for Amazon or Ring to send it to them
Authorities got a search warrant and had the owner's permission to access the footage but ran into issues with two-factor authentication
Investigators ultimately asked family to help the wife get a new cellphone and transfer service to that device to access the video footage
Bouchard said they also canvassed the neighborhood to look for surveillance video
“When I started hearing the details of what happened
it was very disturbing,” said Austin Rogers
who grew up living across the street from the victims
He was always doing yard work — that's when i would see him
DTE released a statement after the incident:
The company also sent tips for when someone identifies as a DTE employee and tries to enter your home
incident or has surveillance video is asked to call the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-4951 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP
(WXYZ) — A man who was critically injured earlier this month after being hit by a car in Rochester Hills has since died
3 when he was hit and killed crossing Rochester Road near Avon Road around 6:45 a.m
Investigators say he was wearing a reflective vest and was in the marked crosswalk
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office says the driver is a citizen of Colombia who was in the country illegally
he did have a valid foreign drivers license
“I was sitting at the table reading my bible waiting for him to come back and he left about 6 o'clock or so," the victims wife Teri Singleton recalled
"It started being 7 (o'clock) and then 7:30 and I started thinking did something happen?"
“I was sitting there as there was a knock on the door and it was unusual for someone to knock on the door that early in the morning," Teri Singleton said
The deputy informed Teri Singleton of the accident and she says her husband was initially alert at the time
he was talking," Teri Singleton said of her husband
"I don't know how he was talking because the car hit him so hard that he flew in the air and hit the windshield and broke it.”
Teri Singleton and her daughter Ruth sat down with our Glenda Lewis and told her that after Stephen arrived at the hospital
he took a turn and was put on life support
“He (doctor) said that my dad was not going to make it
that he had zero percent to live," Ruth Singleton said
"I remember thinking to myself that my dad was so strong that he just doesn't know my dad
He doesn't know all the things my dad did to help people.”
Stephen Singleton was a former WXYZ-TV employee back in the 80s. During 9/11, he went to Ground Zero as a volunteer. It was one of his many selfless actions that we highlighted with a story back in 2022
“I started tearing because I couldn't find survivors," Stephen Singleton said during the 2022 interview
You can watch our 2022 report with him below:
The family is still hoping to get more answers and waits for potential charges in the case against the driver
I wake up and just know he's gone for such a simple and senseless thing," Ruth Singleton said
The Singleton family has set up an online fundraiser to help cover expenses as they mourn their loss
A Dearborn man is in a Louisiana prison facing murder and other charges in the killing of a 72-year-old Rochester Hills man and the imprisonment of his wife
while a second suspect remains on the loose
Oakland County prosecutors charged Carlos Jose Hernandez
according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office
Police said two men posed DTE workers to gain access to the victims' home Friday
“This case is an extremely disturbing and tragic event for which we intend to hold the perpetrators fully accountable,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said
“I am so proud of our whole team and how they worked around the clock to bring this case forward
I am also very proud of our partnership with the U.S
Marshal’s Service as well as the local sheriff’s office that was watching for our suspect vehicle
We continue to ask the public’s help for information on locating the second suspect.”
Hernandez was arrested and taken into custody Saturday afternoon in Shreveport
Hernandez is being held at the Caddo Correction Center in Louisiana
Hussein Murray was found dead in his basement on Friday
More: Man killed in Rochester Hills had 'heart of gold,' family says
More: Man killed, wife bound by men posing as utility workers, Oakland County sheriff says
Deputies on Friday found Murray's wife tied up and her hands duct taped
She told deputies she thought her husband may have been kidnapped
The 72-year-old woman told deputies that the two men first came to the home Thursday about a gas leak
They came back on Friday and were allowed into the home
Murray went with the two men into the basement
Murray's wife was briefly hospitalized after the incident but has since been released
the sheriff's office confirmed on Saturday
The Oakland County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide
"Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of my grandfather Hussein
My grandfather was a man with a heart of gold
who treated all those around him with kindness and compassion
He has made a lasting impact with our family and community
and I’m beyond proud to call him my grandfather," grandson Hussein Murray said in a statement to the Free Press late Saturday
More: MSP troopers injured, driver in custody in Detroit I-96 crash
More: Mother of 7-year-old girl attacked with knife in Detroit: 'Why did he aim for her?'
Hernandez is set to appear in court in the coming days
It is unclear whether he will waive extradition to Michigan
The sheriff's office is still looking for a second suspect
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com
Joshua Zuazo's probable cause hearing took place in Rochester Hills District Court
He and Carlos Hernandez are accused of killing Hussein Murray at his Rochester Hills home
RAW VIDEO: Arraignment in murder where suspects posed as DTE workers
The robbery and murder happened on October 11th
It's unclear if the suspects got away with anything
but police said the men posed as DTE workers to gain entry into the Hamtramk jeweler's home
7 News Detroit obtained court records that explain how the two were caught
Hernandez' mother-in-law recognized him from the Ring camera footage blasted over the airwaves
Retired DPD assistant chief Steven Dolunt told 7 News Detroit
"I'm impressed by the fact that people that were associated with the two defendants but weren't involved in the crime
'This is a heinous crime where I can identify these people
kudos for putting (the Ring footage) out there because sometimes (detectives) don't release everything
a Wayne County Sheriff's deputy reported recognizing Hernandez from the Ring footage
records reveal a vehicle was discovered burning in Detroit near John R and Greendale less than 40 minutes after the crime
They start tying things together," Dolunt said
Investigators used the Flock camera system
Those are cameras located along the highway that are equipped with license plate readers
The technology was able to match the plate on the burned-out vehicle to the vehicle used in the crime
(but) it just solved the murder," Dolunt said
Hernandez' mother-in-law also reported seeing Hernandez driving that same pickup truck without the DTE signage
Court documents show Hernandez' wife told police she picked up Hernandez and Zuazo in the area of 7 Mile and John R
That's down the road from the burning vehicle
The wife told police where she dropped off Zuazo
The detective told the judge investigators used facial recognition on surveillance footage at a Lowe's hardware store
That's where Zuazo allegedly bought zip ties the morning of the crime
They say the person's clothing in the store footage
Hernandez was captured in Louisiana the day after the murder and was extradited back to Michigan
how many other robberies did they do that haven't been reported
Or how many others did they have planned and so
and are they alone or are other people doing this in other cities?"
Hernandez is due back in court for his probable cause hearing on November 4th
(WXYZ) — A locally owned grocery store in Rochester Hills says it’s being pushed out of its location in favor of a new Meijer Grocery store
located at the corner of Tienken and Rochester
says their lease that ends in January is not being renewed by the landlord
Sue Evans was shopping at Hollywood Market on Wednesday afternoon and says she's been going to the store for 20 years
She's been aware that it will likely be closing
their meat is surpassed by none," Evans said
Those who work behind the counter like Peggy Carlson take pride in their positive reputation
“It's like the cheers of stores," Carlson said
they draw us pictures we put them on the wall
The family-owned chain first opened in Oakland County in 1950 and now has a handful of stores
this year could be the last for the Rochester store
after the owner says the landlord is not renewing their lease
Hollywood Markets released a statement from President Thom Welch that read in part
“My family and Hollywood Markets are longtime neighbors and retailers in the Rochester area
to hear from our Landlord’s attorney that our Landlord was not interested in renewing or extending our lease at the Teinken and Rochester Center
It is very unusual for a business that anchors a full center
It was a very difficult message to share with our employees.”
about 2 weeks after Christmas," Carlson said
“We're all very sad because we don't want to shop anywhere else,” Evans said
“They have a more personal relationship with us..
You won't get that at a bigger box store."
The City of Rochester Hills confirms there is a public hearing on Tuesday
September 17 for a proposed Meijer Grocery Store
The company submitted renderings and plans to update the building
A Meijer spokesperson confirmed they have submitted a site plan to the City of Rochester Hills
saying it's the "first step" for considering a new store location
Some Hollywood customers like Evans say they plan to attend the public hearing
“I think there's a ground swelling of support from the community," Evans said
"I hope people will just go and voice their opinions and see if they can make a difference.”
While Hollywood Markets wants to find a different location close by
I don't care because they do right by us,” Evans said
The public meeting is taking place in front of the planning commission this Tuesday
Kayla Clarke
PONTIAC, Mich. – Both men accused of posing as DTE Energy workers to gain access to an Oakland County home where a man was murdered and a woman was tied up have been arrested and charged
have been charged with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment
The charges stem from the death of Hussein Murray, a 72-year-old man who was killed at his home in Rochester Hills on Oct
A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf on all charges Bond was denied
Zuazo is expected back in court for a probable cause conference at 10 a.m
29 and a preliminary examination at 10 a.m
Authorities believe Hernandez and Zuazo went to the Rochester Hills home at 10 p.m. on Oct. 10, posing as DTE Energy workers and told the couple they were there to check a gas leak. The homeowners spoke with them through a doorbell camera
The suspects returned to the home 12 hours later
Murray signed a piece of paper that the suspects told him was from DTE and then led the two men into the basement
When the two men returned from the basement
They reportedly tied the woman up with duct tape on her wrists and ankles and asked where the money and jewelry were
Authorities said they spent at least 20 minutes searching the home before leaving with the woman’s watch and phone
The woman managed to 911 after freeing herself and when Oakland County sheriff’s deputies arrived
she told them she believed her husband may have been kidnapped
deputies found Murray’s body in the basement
He was reportedly bound with duct tape on his wrists
deputies said the cause of death was not immediately clear
Hernandez was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Shreveport, Louisiana
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said Hernandez was spotted traveling south on I-49 from Arkansas
Investigators pulled him over and took him into custody
He is also wanted in Ohio for an armed robbery warrant
He was charged by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment
Hernandez is still awaiting extradition from Louisiana
After Hernandez was arrested, his wife reportedly told investigators the other suspect was Zuazo, who was then located by law enforcement in Plymouth Township on Monday, Oct. 14
Zuazo was taken into custody and lodged at the Oakland County Jail
both men face the possibility of life in prison without parole
Unlawful imprisonment is a felony punishable by up to 15 years and/or a fine up to $20,000
If a DTE Energy worker comes to your house
you should ask to see a badge with photo ID
You can call DTE Energy at 800-477-4747 to verify their identity
DTE Energy released the following warning to customers:
“If anyone arrives at your home or business saying they are from DTE
“If you want to verify a worker’s identity or confirm that a vehicle is an authorized company vehicle
please immediately call DTE at 800-477-4747
If the person becomes agitated or acts in a strange manner
Hank Winchester has more information on how to identify fake workers or other imposters. You can read more here.
Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories.
Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.
An off-duty lieutenant with the Rochester Hills Fire Department rescued two people from a house fire Wednesday morning after spotting smoke from the residence while driving by
The two are hospitalized in serious condition
Chris Ogg was driving by the home in the 700 block of John R Road when he noticed smoke coming from it
found an extension ladder in the yard and used it to rescue two adults through a second-story window
according to a news release from the fire department
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene shortly before 9 a.m.
arrived shortly afterward and extinguished the blaze
They also rescued one dog from the house which was transported by Oakland County Animal Control to a nearby animal hospital for treatment
Mutual aid was provided by Rochester, Auburn Hills
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation Unit
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Lt
Ogg for his extraordinary bravery and swift action in rescuing these residents from their home
His courage saved lives,” Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett stated in the news release
“And while the two victims remain in serious condition
we will continue to pray for them and their families.”
Jury returns with verdict for Commerce man for slaying of wife
a longtime Novi schools employee
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
and one last defensive stop helped the Crusaders hold off a late rally for a 43-38 win
What was as much as a 16-point lead for the Crusaders started to slip away in the final minutes after Calumet’s Bailey Strom hit a pair of 3-pointers
with the Copper Kings pushing for another basket in the closing seconds
Lutheran Northwest’s Scarlet Brown came through with a steal to secure the win
The Crusaders had eight steals as a team in the game
“Paige and Abby up top create a pace that a lot of teams don’t like,” Lutheran Northwest coach Jimmy Mehlberg said
“It’s just been a defensive effort pretty much the whole year for us.”
That defense helped keep the Copper Kings out of rhythm
and helping limit Calumet to 15-of-51 shooting from the field
“I thought early on their length gave us some trouble,” Calumet coach Charlie Kemppainen said
“We adjusted a little bit too late to that
The later part of the fourth quarter was a better indication of who we were all season long
That’s a credit to them for taking us out of that.”
Jackie Kiilunen and Millie Loukus adding eight
grabbing a 26-12 rebounding edge in the first half
Spiehs and Griswold each had five rebounds in the first quarter
The Crusaders picked up 13 second-chance points in the first half
Calumet closed that gap considerably in the second half
and the Crusaders had a 37-34 edge on the boards in the game overall
they’re a great rebounding team,” Mehlberg said
“We had some hustle rebounds as well as got into the right position at the right time.”
Lutheran Northwest opened a quick double-digit lead with Griswold and Abbie Troska hitting baskets in the paint
and Spiehs adding a three-point play and Macavage adding a 3-pointer just before the end of the first quarter
following by an early-second quarter bucket from Spiehs in the paint to make it 15-4
That came during a stretch where the Copper Kings went 11 straight possessions without a point
With 3:49 left in the first Anderson hit a layup to cut the Crusaders’ lead to 7-4
and Calumet did not score again until Strom hit a 3-pointer with 5:07 left in the second
That stretch saw the Copper Kings shoot 0-for-6 from the field and turn the ball over five times
including back-to-back turnovers where a Calumet player inadvertently stepped on the sideline
Griswold responded to Strom’s 3-pointer with one of her own
and later added a layup to put Lutheran Northwest in front 25-11
but Calumet made a mini-run to close the half
with another Strom 3-pointer getting the Copper Kings within nine with 50 seconds left in the half
But the Crusaders answered with a Macavage 3-pointer
and she then grabbed a steal and raced the other way for a layup to put Lutheran Northwest in front 30-16 at halftime
not against a team as good as that,” Kemppainen said
but we just didn’t respond quite quick enough to turn things around.”
Gramzow opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer for the Crusaders before Anderson responded with a layup and a pull-up jumper
A Griswold drive helped Lutheran Northwest get the lead back up to 13
but Anderson beat the third-quarter buzzer with a coast-to-coast layup to make it 37-26
Calumet’s defense held Lutheran Northwest to six points in the fourth
but the Copper Kings were not able to come all the way back
you just have to give it your all,” Kiilunen said
Lutheran Northwest moves on to the state title game on Saturday
The Crusaders were at the Breslin Center last year
“I really think that having the experience from last year
we knew how the game was going to run,” Gramzow said
we were trying to build our own energy and keep it relaxed
They are accused of posing as utility workers to get inside the home of Linda Murray and her husband Hussein
who was the owner of a Hamtramck jewelry store
Linda was allegedly tied up with duct tape and hit by the defendants
and her husband was killed in the basement of their home
“Based upon all of the testimony of these witnesses
based upon all of the exhibits that have been entered
this prosecution has met their burden by probable cause standard and this court finds probable cause that the defendants committed the crime,” said 52-3 District Court Judge Laura Polizzi
“This court will bind over to the circuit court.”
Linda Murray testified Tuesday about how the two defendants showed up at their Oakland County home on Oct
She said the two men showed up to the house on Oct
10 and told them they were with DTE Energy and needed to check for a gas leak
Her husband didn’t let the men in because it was late
and the men told the Murrays that they would be back the following day
Linda said the men returned the following day at around 10 or 11 a.m
Her husband led them to the basement because Hernandez said they needed to check something with their furnace
Linda said they were downstairs for about 10 to 15 minutes and she didn’t really hear much while they were down there
They asked where the safe was and she said they didn’t have one
The defendants also asked about money and the jewelry
which she said wasn’t kept at the house and was in a safety deposit box
Linda asked where Hussein was and noticed blood on Zuazo’s vest
She started to scream and said Hernandez struck her
Watch the video below for Linda Murray’s full testimony
Oakland County Chief Deputy Medical Examiner Shauna Bryan testified about Hussein’s cause of death
When she was asked how the compression would have had to last to cause death
but it would’ve been a couple of minutes for Hussein
he probably can’t struggle and fight back as much so I’d say a matter of minutes,” Bryan said
and also sustained blunt force trauma to his head
She said the neck injuries were consistent with someone being stomped on
several others testified during the preliminary examination
To read the full updates of each person’s testimony, visit here.
As the hearing was about to start on Tuesday, Zuazo said he wanted Michael McCarthy to be removed as his attorney because he didn’t think he was doing enough while handling the case and didn’t feel comfortable with him.
Polizzi said it was too late to make this request.
After the two men were bound over, McCarthy also asked for the charges against Zuazo to be dismissed because he claimed there was a delay in his arraignment.
“This is a murder case,” said Polizzi. “These charges are extremely serious and I don’t believe that there was any unreasonable delay, so for that reason, your motion is denied.”
Hernandez and Zuazo were bound over to circuit court for trial.
No future court dates were set during the hearing.
The following videos include the full hearing of Hernandez and Zuazo split into two parts.
Sara Powers joined WDIV as a digital content producer in Oct. 2024 and has been covering Metro Detroit news since 2021.
Mich.—A 90-year-old man from Rochester Hills died Sunday morning after he stuck a vehicle head-on
According to the Oakland County Sheriff Office the 90 year-old man has been identified as William Frederick Stanley Jr
RELATED ARTICLE: American Red Cross in need of blood donors
Sunday on Rochester Road at Lonesome Oak Drive
The sheriff office says Stanley was southbound on Rochester Road when his 2002 GMC Sierra crossed over the centerline hitting a northbound 2024 Dodge Ram head-on
That 2024 Dodge Ram was driven by 44 year-old Oakland Township man and he was not injured in the crash
Stanley was taken to a hospital where he pronounced dead
The Sheriff's office adds that the roadway was extremely icy at the time of the crash and neither drug or alcohol use were believed to be factors
The incident is being investigated by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Crash and Reconstruction Unit
2025 at 3:04 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Griffin Claw Brewing Company
(Griffin Claw Brewing Company)OAKLAND COUNTY
MI — A Birmingham and Rochester Hills taproom
which is usually closed on Monday's will be open Monday for St
the brewery will also offer traditional Reuben sandwiches
sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese smashed onto marbled rye bread with Reuben sauce
The sandwiches also come with fries and a drink
The brewery will also be offering a Marshmallow Drip
brewed with thousands of the finest marshmallows from the luckiest of cereals
The drink is also available in 4-packs and on tap at both Birmingham and Rochester Hills taprooms
A second suspect has been named in a warrant on connection with the killing of an elderly jeweler who let killers inside his home when they posed as DTE technicians claiming they needed to inspect the house for an emergency
Joshua Zuazo, 39, of Dearborn was named in connection with the killing of Rochester Hills resident Hussein Murray
and he was being held held Thursday night in the Oakland County Jail
according to a news release from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
He was taken into custody without incident by members of the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team
according to a news release from Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard
had already been named in a warrant and was in custody in Louisiana
“I want to reiterate how proud I am of our whole team and what they did to quickly move this case forward
not only taking our suspects off the street
but bringing evidence to the prosecutor to move this into her court for the next phase,” he said
also complimenting “our partners on the state
and local level,” including officers in Caddo Parish
who spotted Hernandez’s truck speeding on Saturday down I-49 near Shreveport
He was pulled over and arrested not only for the Oakland County warrant but also for several armed-robbery warrants from Ohio
Hernandez was being held in the Caddo Correctional Center
pending a return to Michigan expected next week after he waived an extradition hearing in Louisiana
More: Suspect in Rochester Hills killing arrested in Louisiana
Authorities said the duo’s crime began at about 10 p.m
2024 when the two went to the jeweler’s upscale house
posing as DTE workers who were there to check a gas leak
spoke with the two suspects through the home’s doorbell camera but did not let them inside
according to the news release from Bouchard’s office
The suspects then said they’d return on the following day
the husband “signed a piece of paper purportedly from DTE and escorted the defendants to the basement
the defendants came upstairs” and they asked Mrs
Murray “where the money and jewelry were,” then duct-taped her wrists and ankles
defendant Hernandez hit her across the face,” said the release
and drove off in an older model white pick-up truck with a DTE sign on its side
but her husband was found dead in the basement with his wrists and ankles duct-taped
Impersonating utility workers “is despicable and threatens the sense of security of everyone in our community,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said
“My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from violent predators
and we will vigorously pursue justice for the victims in this case,” McDonald said
Officials at DTE said people should request to see an ID badge with a photo
whenever anyone says they are a DTE worker and seeks entry to a residence or yard
“If you are unsure if the person claiming to be from DTE is legitimate
immediately call DTE customer service at 800-477-4747,” warns the utility
And if a person demands to be let into a home
(This story has been updated to reflect our standards.)
Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – One of two men accused of pretending to be DTE Energy workers to gain access to a Rochester Hills home where a man was murdered and a woman was tied up has been charged with murder.
Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, of Dearborn, has been charged by Oakland County prosecutors with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. Hernandez was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said Hernandez was spotted traveling south on I-49 from Arkansas. Investigators pulled him over and took him into custody. He is also wanted in Ohio for an armed robbery warrant.
Hernandez is accused of murdering Hussein Murray, 72.
Murray was killed at his home in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive in Rochester Hills on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
Prosecutors said Hernandez and another man, who is still unidentified, went to the Rochester Hills home at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, posing as DTE Energy workers and told the couple they were there to check a gas leak. The homeowners spoke with them through the Ring camera, but did not allow them inside the home. The suspects returned to the home at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, and were allowed inside.
Murray signed a piece of paper that the suspects told him was from DTE and then led the two men into the basement. When the two men returned from the basement, Murray was not with them.
They tied the woman up with duct tape and asked where the money and jewelry were, according to prosecutors. They duct-taped her wrists and ankles. They spent at least 20 minutes searching the home, according to police. Prosecutors said they took the woman’s phone and watch and left.
The woman called 911 and when deputies arrived she told them she believed her husband may have been kidnapped. While searching the home, deputies found Murray’s body in the basement. Due to the extent of the injuries, deputies said the cause of death was not immediately clear.
If convicted on the felony murder charge, Hernandez faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. Unlawful imprisonment is a felony punishable by up to 15 years and/or a fine up to $20,000.
The suspects left the murder scene in an older-model white pickup truck with a DTE Energy sign on the side.
The other suspect in this case has not been taken into custody. He has been described as thin. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is still seeking information and tips about the second suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters will remain anonymous.
If a DTE Energy worker comes to your house, you should ask to see a badge with photo ID. You can call DTE Energy at 800-477-4747 to verify their identity.
“If anyone arrives at your home or business saying they are from DTE, please ask to see a badge with photo ID. If the person refuses to show their badge, do not allow them inside.
“If you want to verify a worker’s identity or confirm that a vehicle is an authorized company vehicle, please immediately call DTE at 800-477-4747. If the person becomes agitated or acts in a strange manner, insisting that you let them inside, call 911.”
(WXYZ) — Two suspects in the murder of a Rochester Hills man are now in custody
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office says Carlos Hernandez
and an accomplice who has not yet been named
posed as DTE workers to gain entry to a home on Newcastle Dr
Investigators say after the two men got inside
they tied up a woman and led her husband to a basement while staging a robbery
Related Video: Suspects posing as DTE workers kill man
The 72-year-old man who has been identified as Hussein "Sam" Murray was killed during the incident
He was found Friday afternoon in the basement of the home
that’s not right for anybody to go," said Zaher Murray who is the first cousin of victim
Zaher says he and Sam started in the Jewelry business together more than 30 years ago opening a shop in Hamtramck
buying their own individual jewelry stores but remaining close
He loved stories and whoever sat around him it was only Sam talking and that’s the kind of person he was
Zaher says it has been devastating for the entire family to receive the news that he was brutally beaten to death in his own home
"I want (the suspects) to know you didn’t have to kill him like that
you could have just tied him up and not just beat him to death and take what you want to take," said Zaher
We can all replace it but we can’t replace him
You took the main… you took a flower from us and it’s never going to be returned."
Full interview: Family shares memories of Rochester Hills man killed by DTE imposters
After working with law enforcement state to state
the man seen on ring doorbell video trying to enter the home Friday
Law enforcement says Hernandez had several family members inside the car at the time of his arrest
"We were able to locate that vehicle on I-49 in Caddo Parrish
We had two deputies that made a felony traffic stop and identified the driver and he was the person that was indicated to be wanted out of Detroit," said Sheriff Henry Whitehorn with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office in Shreveport
"All indications he was fleeing from Michigan
the Oakland County Sheriff's Office tracked down the second suspect in Plymouth Township
They say tips from the public played an integral role
'We got some information about an individual
Ultimately our surveillance was able to find that individual," said Sheriff Mike Bouchard of the police work that went into apprehending the suspects
While the arrests bring about some relief to community members on edge
the Murray family says its doesn't even begin to replace what they lost
I’d want him to know that we’re here still
They took Sam but they’re not going to take him from our heart," said Zaher
A memorial service was held for Sam Monday
Hernandez attended a jail clearance hearing Monday
He is expected to be brought back to Michigan in the coming days
It's unclear when he and the second suspect will receive official charges or face a judge in Oakland Co
Where Your Voice Matters
The widow of a slain Hamtramck jeweler repeatedly asked two men who posed as DTE workers checking for a supposed gas leak in their Rochester Hills home where her husband was after he went to the basement with the duo
but didn't return when the pair came back upstairs
"I started asking: 'Where is my husband? Where is my husband?' And I didn't get a response," Linda Murray testified Tuesday during a preliminary exam in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills for two men charged in the Oct. 11 death of her husband, Hussein (Sam) Murray
District Judge Laura Polizzi bound over both men — Carlos Hernandez
both of Dearborn — to stand trial in Oakland County Circuit Court
Each is charged with one count of felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment
Both wore orange jumpsuits and handcuffs and sat next to their attorneys during the exam
Their attorneys did not present any witnesses
but both said this was a question of fact for the Circuit Court
Zuazo's attorney Michael McCarthy posed some questions during cross-examination pertaining to his client's identification as a suspect in the case
Polizzi denied a motion by McCarthy to dismiss the complaint because Zuazo was not arraigned until four days after his Oct. 14 arrest while he worked as a construction laborer at a job site in Plymouth
Zuazo had outstanding warrants from Taylor and Ecorse police at the time of his arrest
Polizzi said there was no unreasonable delay; Zuazo had other warrants
and the charges in the murder case "are extremely serious."
McCarthy told the court that Zuazo wanted him to withdraw as his attorney because he believed McCarthy did not do an adequate investigating his case
McCarthy told the court he had been intensely involved in the case
Zuazo told the court he didn't feel comfortable with McCarthy representing him
More: Slain Hamtramck business owner was 'a man with a gold heart'
More: Returned from Deep South to face murder charge, second alleged DTE imposter is denied bond
was found bound and slain in the basement of his home in the 3700 block of Newcastle after his wife called 911 to report a robbery
was one of seven prosecution witnesses who testified
He testified that Linda Murray still had her wrists bound with duct tape when she opened the door for him
He testified that he cut the duct tape off of her wrists
helped with the search of the home and found her husband in the basement with duct tape around his wrists
as well as "a lot of blood" and an empty gun holster around the victim's waist
He testified he saw blood on the wall and the handrail before heading to the basement
Some of Hussein Murray's family and supporters left the courtroom when Dr
deputy chief medical examiner for Oakland County
testified that Hussein Murray's cause of death was neck compression
She said his body had duct tape around his face and covering his mouth
his hands were tied and his feet were bound with duct tape and zip ties
Bryan testified that he had blunt force injury to his head
cuts on his scalp and his jaw bone and hyoid bone in his neck were fractured
she testified it depends on the state of the person
indicating it could be "a matter of minutes
less than 10 minutes if you firmly hold the neck for a long period of time."
Linda Murray testified about the men posing as workers the night of Oct
how they were told to come back the next day and their return the next morning
"I was curious as to why they were looking for a gas leak when I didn’t smell anything," she testified
11 with DTE badges and reflective yellow vests
They were permitted in and Hernandez said he needed to check something on the furnace
Her husband took the men to the basement and Linda Murray testified that she went to finish making breakfast
say anything and didn't hear any commotion
She testified that when the men came back upstairs
She testified they didn't have a safe; jewelry was in a safety deposit box at the bank
and they only had the money she had in her purse (about $300) or what her husband carried in his pocket
Linda Murray testified that she asked where her husband was
then started screaming when she saw blood on Zuazo
She told the court Hernandez struck her in the face
took her iPhone watch off and took her cellphone
She testified that Zuazo told her that her husband was sleeping
She testified that Hernandez bound her ankles and wrists with duct tape and that she could hear Zuazo upstairs in the master bedroom
She said the room was disheveled and costume jewelry was missing
She testified that she had never seen either man before that time
Ring camera footage caught who authorities believed were the suspects in the crime of the beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother who owned a jewelry store and pawn shop
Oakland County sheriff's detective Wendell Smith testified that he interviewed Hernandez in Louisiana when he and a colleague went down to collect evidence after Hernandez was arrested there
Smith testified that Hernandez said he was unhappy with how the news media was portraying him
but admitted to being the person in the Ring video
Smith testified that Hernandez said he never had a handgun missing from the scene and he believed it was sold; and that a cellphone that was taken was discarded while driving on a highway in Michigan
who he had been friends with since childhood
tied up Linda Murray and he didn't remember her being struck
Smith testified that Hernandez said during the interview that the DTE equipment and paperwork was provided by a third-party individual
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard previously told the Free Press the truck the suspects used was found unoccupied in Detroit
severely damaged and had been "lit on fire."
When asked why only Hussein Murray was killed
Smith testified that Hernandez became irate and said "it wasn't supposed to go down like that."
Derick Hutchinson
ROCHESTER HILLS
– The fake DTE Energy workers who are accused of killing a Rochester Hills homeowner appeared in court Tuesday
Click here to watch the court case live
are accused of posing as DTE workers to get into a home
They appeared in court and were bound over to circuit court for trial
No future court dates have been set at this time
Here are the full updates from the preliminary examination on Tuesday
Watch the video below for the second part of the court day for Hernandez and Zuazo
the two men accused of posing as DTE Energy workers and killing 72-year-old Hussein Murray
McCarthy addressed Polizzi about the timeframe of Zuazo’s arraignment
McCarthy said that Zuazo was arraigned four days after he was taken into custody
when the law is that a defendant is arraigned within 48 hours
McCarthy asked the court to dismiss the charge and suppress the evidence collected after 48 hours of his arrest
Polizzi said the court found that there was no unreasonable delay and Zuazo had additional warrants out of Taylor and Ecorse
“These charges are extremely serious and I don’t believe that there was any unreasonable delay
so for that reason your motion is denied.”
Polizzi states the charges that Hernandez and Zuazo were issued
She said there is substantial evidence and the prosecution had met the probably cause standard
Polizzi said this court will bind over to the circuit court
During the interview they asked Hernandez if he had any mental health diagnoses and he said he did
and that we hadn’t been taking his medication
During this discussion Smith continued to say “It wasn’t supposed to go down like this.”
When asked why only one the victim’s was killed Smith said Hernandez became irate and yelled along the lines of
swabs of Hernandez’s DNA and cellphones and brought them back to Michigan
Hernandez told Smith that a third individual gave them the DTE Energy worker clothing
and this person also gave them the Murrays address
He also told Smith that Zuazo wanted to purchase zip ties from Lowe’s
Smith said Hernandez told him that he and Zuazo had be friends since childhood
Smith questioned Hernandez about a gun missing from the scene and Hernandez told him that he never had the gun
Hernandez also told Smith they got rid of the cellphones they took from the scene while driving on the highway in Michigan
a detective with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office was called to testify
He’s been employed by the sheriff’s office for four years and spent four years with the Detroit Police Department before that
Smith flew to Louisiana to interview defendant Hernandez when he was arrested
Smith said Hernandez was unhappy with how the media was portraying him and that he could prove he didn’t commit the actions he was accused of via an insurance policy
Hernandez allegedly told him he had recordings on his phone and items in his vehicle that could show he didn’t do what the media was saying
Smith said Hernandez allegedly denied being at the Murray’s home
but then once he learned they had video footage of him
who works in the forensic laboratory for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
She said she did the swabbing of the zip ties at the house and then once the analysis was complete they compared the DNA
Results showed a likelihood ratio of Zuazo’s DNA present
She said there was a wet and dry swab taken of the zip ties at the scene
Some items listed in her report haven’t been tested yet
Judge Laura Polizzi enters the room and court resumes
Zuazo enters the court room following the recess
Hernandez enters the court room following the recess
The two men who are accused of posing as DTE Energy workers and killing a Rochester Hills man inside his home are in court today
Watch the video below for the full first part of the court day
which included testimony from the wife of Hussein Murray
Watch the video below for the full testimony of Danielle Diaz
Watch the video below for Linda Murray’s full testimony in the court case for Carlos Jose Hernandez
Linda Murray testified Tuesday about how she was tied up by two men who posed as DTE Energy workers and had killed her husband at their Rochester Hills home on Oct
Learn more about what she said during her testimony here.
The court has taken a recess for an hour lunch break
she said she only knew him by the name “Yogi.” She has only met him a couple of times
Hernández’s stepson and they typically live in Texas
Diaz said they came to Michigan in August and stayed with her
She said she never saw a DTE truck or any kind of DTE identification at the house
Diaz said Hernandez and her daughter left to go back to Texas at night
she said she has stayed in contact with Hernandez and recently wished him “Happy Birthday” on Facebook
Diaz said Zuazo had been to her house twice
but said she didn’t really want to be there
Diaz said she was shown clips from the Ring videos when she got there Tuesday
and wasn’t asked any questions by the investigator who showed her the videos
but she said she also saw the a video when detectives arrived at her house on Oct
At the time she said that the one suspect looked like Hernandez
she said she can identify the second suspect to be Zuazo
She was asked if Zuazo was at her daughter and Hernandez’s wedding
When further asked if Zuazo was standing up in the wedding
and then said she didn’t see him at the wedding when questioned again about if he was present at the wedding
Bryan said she determined Murray’s height and weight
She said there was blunt force trauma to the head
She said she had lacerations and bone fractures to his jaw
Bryan said they learned he had defused hemorrhage
He had bruising on his neck and there was bleeding in all of that
Bryan said there had to be a lot of pressure directly on the neck and crushing it to cause these injuries
which is why his cause of death was neck compression
When asked how long the compression would have to last to cause death
Murray was conscious and still breathing and inhaling during part of the attack due to the blood found in his lungs
The matter of death was determined to be homicide
She said the injuries were consistent with someone being stomped on when asked
She is the deputy chief medical examiner for Oakland County
Bryan said Murray came in fully clothed and noticed that he had duct tape covering his face
He also had zip ties around his hands and paper bags covering his hands
The investigator said she collected plastic they found in the sink and she found several fingerprints on the that plastic
The plastic consisted of a Home Depot grocery bag
a red inflatable item (that was deflated) and a large piece of clear plastic that resembled a tarp
The prints she developed came from the tarp-like plastic
a forensic lab investigator with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
She worked with deputies at the scene to get information and then went through the home herself
she said there were a couple pieces of what looked like black electrical tape in the dining area of the kitchen and in the hallway
She said the master bedroom looked like it had been ransacked
There was also a blood swipe mark in a spare bedroom
The forensic investigator said she went to the basement and saw Hussein Murray’s body
She saw an empty firearm holster on his hip
She also said several objects had blood on them
a bloody impression on a ceiling tile and on the side of a box
the deputy saw blood on the wall and the handrail leading to the basement
one of his partners saw the man lying on the ground
and then fire officials came down to try and administer aid
They also cleared the second floor after that
He said the woman answered the door and still had duct tape on her wrists
She explained what had happened with the two defendants
who she believed was still in the basement
An Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputy assigned to the Rochester Hills substation was called to testify
He was dispatched to a robbery at the Murray’s home
He said he was told that a woman called and reported that the house had been robbed and that she was tied up
She also reported that her husband was in the house
McCarthy asked Murray if it was the most upsetting experience she’s had
Hernandez’s attorney discusses how Murray asked about knowing where Zuazo is and asked her if Hernandez ever left the kitchen and went upstairs
She said she has no doubt that Zuazo or Hernandez were the two people inside her house that day
McCarthy has Murray discuss how she identified the defendants and about their characteristics
He asks if it was easier to identify Hernandez because he was bigger
and asked if it was harder to identify Zuazo
McCarthy also said that she could hear Zuazo upstairs
He asked her if she put it together that Zuazo was in the bedroom while she was in the kitchen with Zuazo because of the damage she saw after the fact
She said the first night she only saw Zuazo through the Ring camera footage
Ring video of Hernandez and Zuazo at the house on both days was played in court
She could hear Zuazo going through stuff upstairs
but she couldn’t move so they sat her back in the chair
They went through to the attached garage to leave
Hernandez duct taped her ankles and her wrists together
She clarifies that when she asked where her husband was that Zuazo said he was sleeping
Hernandez asked her if she would stop screaming and when she said she would
Hernandez took her watch off and put it across the table
She saw him take the keys and cash from her purse
“Where is my husband” and noticed blood on Zuazo’s vest
She said she started screaming and Hernandez hit her in the face
The defendants asked her where the safe was and she said they didn’t have one
She said the jewelry wasn’t in the house and was in a safety deposit box when Hernandez asked her
and she said the only money she had was what was in her purse
and her husband usually carried about $5,000 on him
Murray said she didn’t hear her husband or the defendants while they were downstairs
Murray said Zuazo entered the laundry room
and Hernandez said he forgot his meter and needed to go get it from his truck
She said Hernandez was gone for less than a minute
her husband led the defendants down the stairs
Murray said Hernandez and Zuazo entered the home
and her husband was going to show them the basement because Hernandez said they needed to check something with the furnace
Murray said she was about 10 feet behind him
and she said Hernandez gave him the clipboard to sign
Murray went to a doctors appointment at 10 a.m
and when she got home her husband was watching TV
Her husband then told the suspects to come back tomorrow
Murray said they didn’t give a time they’d be back
Murray said Hernandez told her husband they were looking for a gas leak in the neighborhood
and she said she mentioned how it was kind of late for someone to be at the door
but told her husband they checked the neighbor’s house
Murray said she saw the Ring notification on her phone and she was upstairs
She could see down the stairwell and could see the front door
She said she didn’t have a handgun of her own
but she did say that her husband sometimes would keep large amounts of money home from the business and store it at the house
She wasn’t aware of any large amounts of money inside the home at the time of the murder
including the basement and the attached garage
She talked about how they had a Ring and a Guardian alarm as security measures for the house
The wife of Hussein Murray was called to testify
Polizzi denied his request and said Zuazo can’t wait two months after the court has scheduled the examination to make this request
Zuazo said he’s asking him to withdraw as counsel
because he asked him to file a motion months ago and he “refused to do it.”
He said there are things in the case provided by the prosecution that aren’t true
and he doesn’t feel comfortable with him as his counsel
Zuazo wishes to have his defense attorney Michael McCarthy to withdraw as his counsel because Zuazo believes he didn’t do an “adequate investigation into his case.” He was notified of this Tuesday morning
The defense attorney said he was intensely involved in his case
He said this is news to him as he spent time with Zuazo on Friday
He doesn’t believe there is a basis for him to withdraw
Court is in session with Judge Laura Polizzi presiding over the preliminary examination
Zuazo was escorted into the courtroom at 10:16 a.m
Hernandez was escorted into the courtroom at 10:15 a.m
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard explained what police believe happened at the Rochester Hills home
“They came back this morning with the same thing
The husband went to the basement with them where the gas comes into the house and the wife never saw him again -- never saw him come up.”
This murder in this case happened at a home in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive in Rochester Hills
his wife apparently told investigators the other suspect was Zuazo
who was then found by law enforcement in Plymouth Township on Oct
He was also wanted in Ohio for an armed robbery warrant
Murray signed a piece of paper that they told him was from DTE
They reportedly tied the woman up with duct tape on her wrists and ankles and asked where the money and jewelry were. Police said they spent at least 20 minutes searching the home before leaving with her watch and phone.
She managed to 911 after freeing herself and when Oakland County sheriff’s deputies arrived, she told them she believed her husband may have been kidnapped.
While searching the home, deputies found Murray’s body in the basement. He was reportedly bound with duct tape on his wrists, ankles, and face.
Police believe Hernandez and Zuazo went to the Rochester Hills home at 10 p.m. Oct. 10, 2024, posing as DTE Energy workers.
They told the couple through a doorbell camera that they were there to check a gas leak, but the homeowners but did not allow them inside.
The men were allowed inside the home when they returned about 12 hours later, officials said.
Derick is the Digital Executive Producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.
Here are some of our most read articles that might interest you
LOUISIANA (WXYZ) — A man has been charged with murder in Louisiana after allegedly killing a Rochester Hills man and assaulting his wife this past week
posing as a DTE worker to get into the home
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office announced via social media that Carlos Hernandez has been charged with murder
Hernandez has been charged by prosecutors with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment
Hernandez was taken into custodyearlier this weekend
Detectives are still searching for the second suspect
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said this happened on Newcastle Drive near Adams and Dutton roads earlier this week
"Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of my grandfather Hussein," Hussein's grandson said in a statement sent to 7 News Detroit on behalf of the Murray family
"My grandfather was a man with a heart of gold
and I’m beyond proud to call him my grandfather
I am eternally grateful for the support the community has shown our family in this difficult time
We are also grateful for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department’s tireless work in seeking justice for my grandfather
We are heartbroken by the news of his death
but our family will bond through this with the resolve he has instilled in us by being the man he was."
WATCH OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Video shows fake DTE workers accused of killing man
WATCH: Sheriff Bouchard with Oakland County Sheriff's Office speaks after alleged murder
2024 at 11:44 am ETThe much anticipated rope bridge spans the Clinton River, giving parkgoers access to the 48-acre Innovation Hills Green Space
which is the city’s largest and highest quality green space
(Rochester Hills Mayor's Office )The much anticipated rope bridge spans the Clinton River, giving parkgoers access to the 48-acre Innovation Hills Green Space
(Rochester Hills Mayor's Office )ROCHESTER HILLS
MI — Adventure seekers can now explore another part of Innovation Hills in Rochester Hills thanks to a new rope bridge
The much anticipated rope bridge spans the Clinton River
giving parkgoers access to the 48-acre Innovation Hills Green Space
The space also features an unpaved half-mile trail loop that allows walkers to fully immerse themselves in the unique habitat and diverse vegetation
The 112-foot-long suspension bridge is located in the back of the park near the Turtle Trail
roughly a half-mile walk from the park entrance
It stands over 20 feet tall and was built using a combination of steel cables
It is also the only pedestrian suspension bridge in the metro Detroit area
"The new rope bridge at Innovation Hills is a thrilling addition to Michigan’s premier park and unlocks even more of our beautiful green space for residents and visitors to enjoy," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K
"This is yet another testament to our commitment to creating unique and exciting experiences in our parks."