Rochester Hills Murder Suspects Who Posed as Utility Workers Now Behind Bars

Photo byOakland County Sheriff's Office

Police arrest both suspects in the Rochester Hills homicide involving men posing as utility workers. Residents remain on edge as details emerge in the brutal killing.

Final Suspect Arrested in Gruesome Rochester Hills Homicide

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – Both suspects in the Rochester Hills homicide case that shocked the community have been apprehended, bringing a critical development to a disturbing crime. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office announced that a second suspect was arrested on Monday afternoon in Plymouth Township, ending a days-long manhunt that had left residents anxious.

The case stems from the murder of Hussein Murray, a 72-year-old Rochester Hills man, who was found dead in his basement on October 11, 2024, after two men posing as DTE Energy employees gained access to his home. The men were allowed in under the guise of inspecting a gas leak. According to Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard, the suspects restrained Murray’s wife, also 72, before leading him to the basement where his body was later discovered. The victim’s hands had been duct-taped, and his wife, who feared her husband had been kidnapped, was briefly hospitalized but has since been released.

The first suspect, identified as Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, was arrested in Shreveport, Louisiana with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals and Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office. Hernandez has been formally charged with murder and awaits extradition to Michigan. Sheriff Bouchard emphasized the collaborative effort of law enforcement in the swift arrest. “I encourage the suspects to turn themselves in because one way or another, we will find you,” Bouchard said prior to Hernandez’s capture.

Community on Edge as Homicide Investigation Unfolds

The final suspect was apprehended without incident in a traffic stop in Plymouth Township, executed by the Oakland County Fugitive Apprehension Team. The sheriff’s office has not yet released further details regarding this individual, though authorities are confident that the arrests will calm the shaken Rochester Hills community.

The homicide was described as particularly gruesome, with investigators initially unsure whether the victim had been shot or bludgeoned to death due to the extent of his injuries. The Oakland County Medical Examiner later ruled the death a homicide.

Authorities are still piecing together whether anything was stolen from the home, but detectives continue to urge caution. “We are looking for the public’s help,” said Bouchard. “If anyone noticed suspicious activity or a white pickup truck with orange cones in the area, please come forward.”

This crime has spurred widespread warnings from local law enforcement about allowing unfamiliar individuals, even those claiming to be utility workers, into homes without verification. Bouchard has encouraged residents to contact utility companies directly to confirm the presence of workers before granting them access.

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