Rochester Hills, MI – A 72-year-old Michigan man was killed Friday during a home invasion in Rochester Hills. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, where two suspects posing as DTE Energy workers gained access to the residence.
Deputies responded to a 911 call from the victim’s wife, who reported that she had been tied up by the intruders. The suspects allegedly restrained her with duct tape before taking her husband to the basement. Upon arrival, police found the man’s body in the basement, but the cause of death has not yet been determined.
According to Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the suspects arrived at the home in a white pickup truck with orange traffic cones. The night before, they had attempted to gain entry by claiming there was a gas leak but were turned away. They returned the following morning, and the couple allowed them inside to investigate the supposed leak. The wife did not see her husband return from the basement and assumed he had been kidnapped.
Detectives are now searching for the two men, who remain at large. The Sheriff’s Office is working to obtain security camera footage from the area and is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects. Sheriff Bouchard emphasized the importance of being cautious when unexpected workers arrive, urging residents to verify the credentials of utility workers before granting access to their homes.
The victim, whose name is being withheld until all family members are notified, owned a business in Wayne County. Authorities are also investigating whether anything was taken from the home during the invasion.
Anyone with information or surveillance footage is asked to contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives are especially interested in footage from 8 p.m. Thursday until noon Friday.
