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Two Arrests Made in Fatal Michigan Home Invasion Targeting Jewelry Store Owner October 22, 2024 (0 comments)

Rochester Hills, MI--Two suspects are in custody following a fatal home invasion where intruders posing as utility workers gained entry.

[Image via istockphoto.com]

A report in ABC News stated that Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, was arrested in Louisiana on October 12, charged with murder, and is awaiting extradition. A second suspect, whose name has not been released, was arrested without incident during a traffic stop in Plymouth Township, Michigan, on October 14.

The victim, Hussein Murray, 72, was found dead in the basement of his home on October 11. His wife, who called 911 after being tied up with duct tape, told investigators the suspects had posed as gas leak inspectors. The night before, the same men had tried to enter the home but were turned away.

Per the report, the suspects returned and were let inside. Murray went with them to the basement, but he never returned. His wife reported that after they tied her up, she assumed her husband had been abducted.

Oakland County Sheriff's officials stated that Murray's injuries were severe, and it was not immediately clear if he had been shot or beaten. The report noted that security footage from the home shows one suspect wearing a utility worker uniform, holding a clipboard, and claiming to be from DTE Energy.

In response to the incident, DTE Energy advised residents to verify the identities of anyone claiming to represent the company and to call 911 if they refused.

Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the attack as deliberate, saying Murray, a jewelry and pawn shop owner, was "very targeted" and that the incident was not random.

The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement is determining whether additional suspects were involved.

Learn more in this ABC news report.