An elderly Michigan man was murdered and his wife was held captive in his home after inviting two men posing as power company employees to his home, police said.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office announced in a news release that a 72-year-old man was killed just before noon Friday in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive in Rochester Hills.
Attached is a release regarding the murders committed by two DTE impersonators that occurred today in Rochester Hills. Also, if someone has…
Posted by Oakland County Sheriff's Office above Friday, October 11, 2024
Officers responded to the home after receiving a 911 call from the wife, who found her bound and secured with duct tape, raising concerns that her husband had been abducted.
Police found his body when they searched the basement of the house. The body was so “ghastly” that investigators have not yet determined whether he was bludgeoned to death or shot.
Video of doorbell ringing obtained by sheriff's office – they said They replied, “Not because of the Ring” – showing a man wearing a neon work vest and N95 mask saying, “We're DTE. We're looking for gas leaks.” Masu.
The man who spoke flipped over his clipboard and showed the camera a DTE Energy-branded paper that appeared to be from a Detroit-based energy company.
Another 72-year-old woman told police that two male suspects had come to her home the night before, but they wouldn't let her in. When they returned Friday, police said the couple let them into the home and the husband took them downstairs. This is to look for leaks. ”
It was not immediately clear when exactly the woman was tied up and secured with duct tape, but police say she was kidnapped because she did not see her husband come out of the basement with the men. “I thought he might have done something to me,” the woman told the police.
When police arrived, the suspect was gone.
The names of neither victim have been released pending notification of other family members.
Investigators have not yet determined whether anything was stolen from the home.
“We're asking for the public's help, anyone who may have seen something,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, adding that unexpected visitors, such as employees, should be helped. He added that people should be careful not to let them into their homes.
The sheriff's office also asked the public to come forward with information regarding the suspect's identity or whereabouts.
