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Ferndale Police Arrest Suspect in Devon Square Murder (video)ctechad
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 15, 2014)
When they learned of a body found at Devon Square Apartments around noon on Tuesday, Ferndale Police acted quickly to investigate and capture their suspect in less than a day and a half.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released though Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson described the elderly man, stating “It does appear the victim was physically and mentally infirm, by that I mean he had some nicholas-schrock-allstatehealth issues and mentally he was slow, and described by others as being a friendly individual, maybe a gullible type.”  Family has not yet been notified.
The 67-year-old victim was found Tuesday in a first floor apartment. Surveillance tapes from the apartment building revealed that the victim and his killer knew each other, at least in the days before the murder.  They were seen coming and going several times, but at some point before Tuesday the suspect was alone and using the victim’s keys to leave and return to the apartment.  The suspect also used the victim’s car, running errands and stealing various items from the apartment, including a large television set.  The car, a blue Chevy Cobalt, had been recovered on a side street in Detroit.
Ferndale Police called a press conference on Wed. Jan. 15 at 3pm to ask for the media’s help in getting pictures of the suspect out to the public. That proved unnecessary as the suspect was taken into custody sidebar01reader_supportwhile reporters happened to be at the station filming.
The suspect’s name has not yet been released, but he’s been described as a potentially homeless white male, approximately 35 years old, about 5’10” and heavyset with brown hair and facial hair.  He is known around Hazel Park, Ferndale and Royal Oak for panhandling, and has used the name Bill or William.  He was arrested near 8 Mile and I-75 in Hazel Park.  Police now report that the suspect is 37 years old.
Lt. Wilson described the suspect as “a heartless and violent” individual. The victim had been stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife.
Devon Square Apartments are income-based housing units for individuals over the age of 62.  There are also two bedroom family units in a separate building.
Murder is rare in Ferndale.  Since the Ferndale 115 News began in 2009, there have been only two reports of homicide.  In December 2009 a teenager was shot to death at a Sweet 16 party at the VFV Hall , and in November 2010 the owner of Dollar Club on Hilton was killed.
NOTE:  This story has been updated through the day as new information has become available.

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