(CBS DETROIT) – Two men charged with murder in… death of a Rochester Hills man in October appeared in court on Tuesday.
Joshua Zuazo, 39, and Carlos Hernandez, 37, did charged with murder and two counts of false imprisonment in connection with the death of 72-year-old businessman Hussein Murray. Investigators allege the suspects posed as DTE employees and attempted to gain entry to Murray’s home on the night of October 10. They were denied entry and returned the next day, this time allowed inside.
Investigators say Murray escorted the men to the basement, but the suspects returned without him. Police later found Murray’s body in the basement, with duct tape on his wrists and ankles. Hernández was arrested on October 12 in Shreveport, Louisiana and Zuazo was arrested in Plymouth two days later.
Investigators believe Murray was targeted because he owned a jewelry store in Hamtramck.
On Tuesday, the court heard testimony from the medical examiner, Oakland County sheriff’s deputies and Murray’s wife during a preliminary hearing.
Linda Murray testified that Hernandez and Zuazo knocked on her door on Oct. 10 and said they needed to check the house for a gas leak. She testified that the next day, when Zuazo and Hernandez gained access to the basement, they returned without her husband and asked her where the safe and money were. She said she saw blood on Hernandez’s vest and started screaming. She testified that Hernandez then allegedly punched her in the face and tied her up by the wrists and ankles.
Detective Wendell Smith of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office testified that Hernandez admitted in an interview that he was videotaped by Murray’s Ring doorbell, which showed the two suspects dressed as alleged DTE employees.
“I asked him where the DTE – I guess we’ll call it equipment and paperwork – came from. He stated that there was a third party that gave them Murray’s address and also provided them with the DTE equipment and paperwork,” Smit said.
The detective said he also questioned Hernandez about why Hussein Murray was killed while Linda Murray remained alive.
“When we asked him why only one victim had been killed, he became enraged and shouted something like, ‘What do you mean, why did we only kill one? It wasn’t supposed to happen like that.'”
After hearing the evidence Tuesday, Judge Laura Polizzi decided to commit both men to court for trial.
“We have substantial evidence that was admitted today: photos, videos,” Polizzi said. “Based on all the testimony of these witnesses, based on all the evidence presented, this prosecutor has met their burden on probable cause, and this court finds probable cause that the defendants committed the crime.”
DeJanay Booth-Singleton contributed to this report.
