FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – A Farmington Hills neighborhood is stunned Wednesday after police said they believe a 35-year-old woman was murdered by her 16-year-old son.
The teenage boy is locked up at Oakland County Children's Village, which is a juvenile detention center in Farmington Hills. As prosecutors review the case, they have to determine if the teen will stay at the Children's Village or move to the Oakland County Jail, where he would be officially charged with killing his mother.
The well-manicured lawn and winding driveway to the family's mansion looks like paradise, but on the acres of the estate on Howard Road, police said something horrific happened.
When officers arrived at the home around 6:40 a.m. Monday, they said they found Nada Huranieh dead on the patio outside the house. Her son is accused of shoving her out a second-story window.
"I'm just shocked," neighbor Toni Jones said. "I'm totally speechless. I can't imagine."
Neighbors said they keep thinking about what could have happened inside the mansion before the alleged murder.
"That's very tragic," Jones said. "I can't imagine anyone doing anything like that, let alone your mom or someone close to you in your family."
Huranieh was a fitness instructor. At first, investigators didn't believe her fall from the window was anything more than an accident, but days later, detectives insisted her fall was deliberate.
It's unclear if anyone other than her son was involved, officials said.
"Can you imagine what the rest of the family is going through?" Jones said. "I cannot. It would be devastating."
Police haven't released a motive behind the murder, but the 16-year-old is expected to be arraigned some time this week. It's unclear if he will be bound over as an adult.