Suspect charged, search for second suspect in Rochester Hills killing continues
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, police said.
Oakland County prosecutors charged Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, of Dearborn, with felony murder, a mandatory life offense if convicted, and two counts of unlawful imprisonment, 15-year felonies, on Sunday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. The underlying felony on the murder charge is robbery, according to the sheriff's office.
Police said two men posed DTE workers to gain access to the victims' home Friday, police said.
“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, Louisiana, according to the sheriff's office. Hernandez is being held at the Caddo Correction Center in Louisiana, the sheriff's office said.
Hussein Murray was found dead in his basement on Friday.
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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 were not let in. They came back on Friday and were allowed into the home. Murray went with the two men into the basement, seemingly to look for the leak, according to a news release. Murray's wife was briefly hospitalized after the incident but has since been released.
Murray owned Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck, the sheriff's office confirmed on Saturday. The Oakland County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, according to a news release.
"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.
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Hernandez is set to appear in court in the coming days, according to the sheriff's office. It is unclear whether he will waive extradition to Michigan, the sheriff's office said.
The sheriff's office is still looking for a second suspect, an unknown adult male, in the case. 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.
Nushrat Rahman contributed to this report.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.