Men posing as DTE workers allegedly kill Michigan homeowner and tie up his wife

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI – Police are looking for two men who pretended to be utility workers on Friday, Oct. 11 and allegedly killed a 72-year-old man in his home and taped his wife.

The apparent homicide happened shortly before noon in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive in Rochester Hills, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers arrived at the home after the victim’s 72-year-old wife called 911.

The woman told police that two men posing as DTE workers showed up at the couple’s home Thursday evening, claiming there was a gas leak, but were not allowed into the home. home The men returned on Friday and the victim took them to the basement to look for the leak.

When the victim did not come back up, his wife assumed he had been kidnapped. Deputies found the man dead in the basement and “due to the gruesome nature of his injuries” it was unclear whether he had been shot or beaten to death, according to a news release. The victim’s wife had been bound and taped.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the suspects, who they say were driving a white pickup truck with orange cones on the back. Home security camera footage released by police shows the suspects arriving at the home with clipboards and safety vests.

“We’re looking for the public’s help — anybody who saw anything, anything,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.

Bouchard also warned that people should be wary of anyone who shows up at their home unexpectedly and encouraged residents to check with a utility or business before allowing workers inside.

The victim’s name is not being released pending family notification, but the sheriff’s office said he was a business owner in Wayne County. Detectives are also investigating whether anything was taken from the home.