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    • Second man charged with killing Rochester Hills man in his home refuses bail
    Suffolk

    Second man charged with killing Rochester Hills man in his home refuses bail

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    Rochester Hills – A judge on Friday ordered a 39-year-old man to be incarcerated in the Oakland County Jail after he was accused of killing a business owner last week by allegedly posing as a utility worker so that he and his partner could Gained access to the victim’s house.

    During an eight-minute arraignment hearing in 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills, Joshua Zuazo of Dearborn was charged with aggravated murder, punishable by life in prison; and two counts of unlawful imprisonment, which are 15-year felonies. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Zuazo and Carlos Hernandez are accused of impersonating DTE Energy workers on Oct. 11 when they were allowed into the home of Hussein Murray. The 72-year-old victim was the owner of Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck, which advertised on Facebook that it offered luxury watches and “custom diamond pieces.”

    Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told The Detroit News he believes the victim was targeted because of his business.

    During Friday’s arraignment hearing, Judge Laura E. Polizzi denied a request for cash bail from defendant Josh Aprile’s attorney.

    “It is obvious that these allegations are very serious,” Polizzi said. “This court has concerns about public safety and there are concerns that he poses a flight risk.”

    According to Oakland County sheriff’s officials, Zuazo and Hernandez visited Murray’s home on Oct. 10 and said they were there to check for a gas leak. The suspects returned the next day and were allowed into the house. Once inside, they killed Murray, bound his 72-year-old wife’s hands with duct tape and ransacked the premises, officials said.

    After the attackers left, the woman was able to free herself and call 911.

    Hernandez, 37, also of Dearborn, was arrested without incident Saturday in Shreveport, Louisiana, and charged with aggravated murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. Hernandez is being held at the Caddo Correction Center in Shreveport. He is expected to return to Michigan sometime next week after skipping an extradition hearing in Louisiana.

    Both defendants have a criminal history. According to Michigan Department of Corrections records, Hernandez was sentenced to 1 to 15 years in prison in 2006 after pleading guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct between the ages of 13 and 15. While in prison, he was convicted of attempted weapons possession in 2012.

    According to MDOC records, Hernandez was released from prison in 2022.

    Zuazo has a criminal record dating back to 2004, with multiple convictions for armed robbery and receiving stolen property.

    During Friday’s arraignment, Darla Finley of Pretrial Services argued that Zuazo should be denied bail.

    “The defendant refused to be interviewed,” Finley said. “Given the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s criminal record, the bond is about the safety of the community.”

    Zuazo’s lawyer said his client is a working father of three.

    “It is my understanding that he was at work at the time of the arrest,” Aprile said. “I don’t think there was any resistance to the police.”

    The judge denied Aprile’s request for bail and ordered a probable cause hearing on October 29 and a preliminary examination on November 4.

    Murray and his wife were married for 54 years and have three children and 11 grandchildren, one of the victim’s grandchildren, Hussein Murray, said in a statement.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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