DETROIT — One of two suspects accused of posing as utility workers before killing a Michigan man and binding his wife with duct tape inside their home was taken into custody on Saturday in Louisiana, authorities said.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana said deputies arrested Carlos Jose Hernandez , 37, without incident on Saturday. Deputies had received information that Hernandez, who is wanted in Michigan for a possible homicide, was heading southbound on Interstate 49 from Arkansas, according to the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office.
Caddo deputies spotted a vehicle matching a 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 Correction Center.
"Hernandez was booked for multiple warrants out of Ohio for armed robbery, as well as a homicide warrant out of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office (in Michigan)," the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office said in a news release Sunday.
Oakland County prosecutors charged Hernandez with felony 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 on Friday in Rochester Hills, an upscale northern suburb of Detroit, according to the county sheriff's office.
"We appreciate the public's help with giving us tips and information related to the Rochester Hills homicide involving the fake DTE workers," the county sheriff's office said in a statement Saturday following Hernandez's arrest.
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Police believe 2 suspects impersonated DTE Energy employees
Murray was killed shortly before noon on Friday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Deputies had responded to the scene after Murray's wife had called 911 and discovered the 72-year-old woman tied up and her hands duct-taped.
Murray's wife told deputies that two men — posing as DTE Energy workers — had come to the home on Thursday night and claimed they were checking for a gas leak. At the time, they were not let into the home.
But after coming back on Friday, the two men were allowed to enter the home and Murray accompanied the men into the basement, seemingly to look for the leak, according to the county sheriff's office. Murray's wife told deputies that she did not see her husband come up from the basement and thought he had been kidnapped.
"While checking the house to make sure it was safe, deputies found the husband's body in the basement," the county sheriff's office said in a news release Friday. "Because of the gruesome nature of the injuries, it was not immediately clear if he had been shot or bludgeoned to death."
On Friday night, the county sheriff's office shared on social media a photo and video from the Ring camera system at the home. The video showed one of the men wearing a white, heavy-duty 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 checkin' for gas leaks," the man says before flashing the front of the clipboard with what appears to be a white paper on it.
There also appeared 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 on 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 on Saturday. The agency is investigating if anything was taken from the home.
"Based on what I've seen over my career, they may have thought there was valuables in the home due to the business, and were trying to get whatever those valuables were," Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters on 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 to his family, and who had a smile that "could make you feel like the world was yours."
"Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of my grandfather Hussein," 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 all those around him with kindness and compassion. He has made a lasting impact with our family and community, and I’m beyond proud to call him my grandfather."
Murray's funeral, viewing, and commemoration services will be held Sunday, Monday, and Oct. 20 at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights, according to a post on Instagram and the mosque's Facebook.
People should be 'weary of anyone showing up at their home unexpectedly'
Bouchard warned residents to be "weary of anyone showing up at their home unexpectedly, claiming to be from a utility or some other business and wanting access." The sheriff encouraged residents to check with the business or utility and ask if they have workers in the area before allowing them in the home.
DTE Energy , a Detroit-based energy company, warned customers about utility impersonators in a statement on Friday. The company advised that if anyone comes to a home or business claiming to be from DTE, to check for a badge with a photo ID and call the company to confirm.
"If the person refuses to show their badge, do not allow them entry into your home. If the person becomes agitated or acts in a strange manner, call 911 immediately," the energy company said.
The incident is the latest example of scams that have targeted water, gas, and electricity customers. Utility companies have increasingly warned consumers of potential scams in recent years due to advancements in technology and new tactics by scammers.
This year, two California-based utility companies reported a significant increase in scams. Southern California Edison said in August that it had received nearly 1,300 reports from customers targeted by scammers impersonating the company.
Of those reports, customers were "swindled out of about $170,000 in fraudulent payments, with the average customer losing $170," according to Southern California Edison. About four months before, Pacific Gas & Electric Company warned about scams targeting its customers that have continued to "increase at an alarming rate," KTXL reported .
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How to protect yourself against utility scams
Common types of utility scams include impersonators that typically contact customers in person at their homes, through phone calls and emails, or by other online tactics, according to Utilities United Against Scams, a consortium of more than 150 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities.
Scammers will often threaten to disconnect services if payment isn't made immediately, Utilities United Against Scams says 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 utility scams, Utilities United Against Scams advises people not to provide or confirm personal and financial information to anyone who initiates contact.
"Never give out information or provide any payment type to any callers or unexpected individual(s) appearingat 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 utilities consortium also advised people to:
- Don't rush and take your time verifying that the person contacting is a legitimate utility company representative by calling a verified number for the utility company.
- Review disconnection notifications as utility companies will never give a single notification shortly before disconnecting services and will mail you such notices several times.
- Always ask the person contacting you questions, including providing you with your account number, your last payment amount, date of payment, and their employee identification number.
- Only pay your utility company through verified bill payment methods by the company.
- Stay updated on scams by reviewing scam guides, local news reports, law enforcement websites, federal government websites, and research incoming phone numbers or emails you do not recognize. "Scammers are constantly updating their tactics, and you will need to stay educated on new types of scams and tips to avoid them," according to Utilities United Against Scams.
Contributing: Christina Hall and Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Suspect in deadly Michigan home invasion arrested in Louisiana, authorities say
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