Suspect in deadly Michigan home invasion arrested in Louisiana, authorities say

DETROIT — One of two suspects accused of posing as utility workers before killing a Michigan man and tying his wife with duct tape inside their home was arrested Saturday in Louisiana , announced the authorities.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana said deputies arrested Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, without incident Saturday. Deputies had received information that Hernandez, wanted in Michigan for a possible homicide, was heading south on Interstate 49 from Arkansas, according to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Caddo deputies spotted a vehicle matching the description of Hernandez’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 49 at Louisiana Highway 169, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said. The suspect was then apprehended and transported to the Caddo Correctional Center.

“Hernandez has several arrest warrants from Ohio for armed robbery, as well as a homicide warrant from the Oakland County (Michigan) Sheriff’s Office,” said the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office in a news release Sunday.

Oakland County prosecutors charged Hernandez with murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment on Sunday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The county sheriff’s office is currently seeking his extradition from Louisiana.

The county sheriff’s office is still searching for a second suspect who, along with Hernandez, is believed to be responsible for the death of 72-year-old Hussein Murray. Murray was found dead in the basement of his home Friday in Rochester Hills, an upscale northern Detroit suburb, according to the county sheriff’s office.

“We appreciate the assistance of the public in providing us with tips and information regarding the Rochester Hills homicide involving the fake DTE employees,” the county sheriff’s office said in a statement Saturday following the arrest of Hernandez.

Don’t fall for it: The fake QR code scam that aims to take your money from parking meters

Police believe 2 suspects posed as DTE Energy employees

Murray was killed shortly before noon Friday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Police responded to the scene after Murray’s wife called 911 and found the 72-year-old woman tied up and her hands taped.

Murray’s wife told deputies that two men — posing as DTE Energy workers — came to the home Thursday evening and claimed they were looking for a gas leak. At the time, they were not allowed into the house.

But after returning Friday, the two men were allowed into the house and Murray accompanied them into the basement, apparently to look for the leak, according to the county sheriff’s office. Murray’s wife told deputies she did not see her husband come out of the basement and thought he had been kidnapped.

“While checking the house to make sure it was safe, officers found the husband’s body in the basement,” the county sheriff’s office said in a news release Friday. “Due to the gruesome nature of the injuries, it was not immediately clear whether he had been shot or bludgeoned to death.”

The county sheriff’s office shared a photo and video from the home’s Ring camera system on social media Friday evening. The video showed one of the men wearing a heavy-duty white mask covering his nose and mouth; a dark-colored glove; and a yellow vest with orange and blue stripes, while he appeared to be holding a clipboard.

“We’re DTE. We’re checking for gas leaks,” the man says before pointing to the front of the clipboard with what appears to be a white paper on it.

There also appears to be another person behind him wearing a similar vest in the video, but the person’s face is not visible.

Murray’s death was ruled a homicide Saturday by the Oakland County medical examiner, according to the county sheriff’s office. His wife was briefly hospitalized after the incident but has since been released, the county sheriff’s office added.

Murray owned Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck, an enclave about 6 miles north of downtown Detroit, the county sheriff’s office confirmed Saturday. The agency is investigating whether anything was stolen from the house.

“From what I’ve seen in my career, maybe they thought there were valuables in the house because of the business and were trying to get those valuables,” he said. Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters Friday.

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.

Hussein Murray had a ‘heart of gold,’ family says

His grandson, who was named after his grandfather, said Murray was an “amazing cook” and always shared fruits and vegetables from his garden. He described him as someone who spread joy and warmth throughout his family and who had a smile that “could make you feel like the world was your oyster.”

“Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of my grandfather Hussein,” his grandson Hussein Murray said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. “My grandfather was a man with a heart of gold, who treated everyone around him with kindness and compassion. He had a lasting impact on our family and community, and I am beyond proud to call him my grandfather.”

Murray’s funeral, visitation and memorial services will be held Sunday, Monday and Oct. 20 at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights, according to a post on the mosque’s Instagram and Facebook.

People should be ‘tired of someone showing up at their house unexpectedly’

Bouchard warned residents to “be wary of anyone who shows up at their home unexpectedly, claiming to be from a utility or other business and wanting access.” The sheriff encouraged residents to check with the company or utility and ask if they have workers in the area before allowing them into the home.

DTE Energy, a Detroit-based energy company, warned customers about utility usurpers in a statement Friday. The company advised anyone who comes to a home or business claiming to be DTE to check for a photo ID badge and call the company to confirm.

“If the person refuses to show their badge, do not allow them into your home. If the person becomes agitated or acts strange, call 911 immediately,” the energy company said.

The incident is the latest example of a scam targeting water, gas and electricity customers. In recent years, utility companies have increasingly warned consumers about potential scams due to technological advances and new tactics by fraudsters.

This year, two California-based utility companies reported a significant increase in scams. Southern California Edison said in August it had received nearly 1,300 reports of customers being targeted by fraudsters posing as the company.

Among those reports, customers were “scammed out of approximately $170,000 in fraudulent payments, with the average customer losing $170,” according to Southern California Edison. About four months prior, Pacific Gas & Electric Company warned of scams targeting its customers, which continued to “increase at an alarming rate,” KTXL reported.

Beware: “Card declined” message for an online purchase could be a sign of a scam

How to protect yourself from utility scams

Common types of utility scams include identity thieves who typically contact customers in person at their home, through phone calls and emails, or through other online tactics, according to Utilities United Against Scams, a consortium of more than 150 U.S. and Canadian utility, water and electricity companies. natural gas utilities.

Fraudsters often threaten to disconnect services if payment is not made immediately, Utilities United Against Scams explains in its guide to utility scams. They also use phone calls, text messages, or emails to demand payments or steal personal information, among other tactics.

To avoid imposter scams, Utilities United Against Scams advises users not to provide or confirm personal and financial information to anyone who makes contact.

“Never give information or provide any type of payment to unexpected callers or people who show up at your home or business claiming to represent your utility,” according to Utilities United Against Scams. “Your utility will have your relevant personal and account information.”

The utility consortium also advised people to:

• Do not rush and take your time to verify that the person making the contact is a legitimate representative of the utility company by calling a verified utility company number.

• Review disconnection notifications, as utility companies will never give a single notification shortly before disconnecting services and will send you these notifications multiple times.

• Always ask questions of the person contacting you, including providing your account number, the amount of your last payment, the date of the payment, and their employee identification number.

• Pay your utility company only through company-verified bill payment methods.

• Stay informed about scams by checking scam guides, local news reports, law enforcement websites, federal government websites, and look for phone numbers or incoming emails you don’t do not recognize. “Scammers are constantly updating their tactics, and you’ll need to stay informed about new types of scams and tips for avoiding them,” according to Utilities United Against Scams.

Contributors: Christina Hall and Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan home invasion: Suspect posing as utility worker arrested