ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Investigators have released doorbell camera footage of one of the men who pretended to be a DTE worker to gain access to a Rochester Hills home where a man was murdered and his wife was tied up.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. The woman, 72, had been tied up and her hands were duct-taped. She called 911 and when deputies arrived she told them she believed her husband may have been kidnapped.
While searching the home, deputies found her husband’s body in the basement. Due to the extent of the injuries, deputies said the cause of death was not immediately clear.
The woman told deputies that two men had come to the home at around 10 p.m. on Thursday and said there was a gas leak, but they were not allowed to enter the home.
They returned Friday and were allowed into the home, her husband led them into the basement.
“They came back this morning with the same thing, said there was a gas leak,” Oakland County sheriff Micahel Bouchard said. “They were allowed into the house. The husband went to the basement with them where the gas comes into the house and the wife never saw him again -- never saw him come up.”
When the two men returned from the basement, they tied the woman up with duct tape and then spent at least 20 minutes searching the home, according to police. It’s unclear what, if anything, was taken.
Here is a picture of one of our homicide suspects. Even though they are attempting to conceal their faces and identity, it’s likely if you know this person you will recognize even with the mask. A reward is possible. Either call our office or 1 800 speakup. pic.twitter.com/D7MmLS3zn5
— Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (@oaklandsheriff) October 11, 2024
The sheriff’s office is asking for anyone with security camera or video from 8 p.m. Thursday until noon on Friday to share that footage with investigators. They are looking for two men who were driving a white pickup truck with orange cones in the truck bed.
One of the men was described as thin, and the other was described as heavy-set.
“They had a placard on the side of a white pickup truck they came back with the same thing, said there is a gas leak. They were allowed in the house. The husband went to the basement with them where the gas comes into the house and the wife never saw him again,” Bouchard said.
Bouchard said they don’t know why the house was targeted, but that the resident was a business owner.
“Lots of times, when people are small business owners, they become a target for assets or cash that sometimes they may bring home,” Bouchard said.
---> Read: Business owner killed, wife duct taped by fake DTE workers in Oakland County home
How to verify a worker’s identity with DTE Energy
If a DTE Energy worker comes to your house, you should ask to see a badge with photo ID. You can call DTE Energy at 800-477-4747 to verify their identity.
DTE Energy released the following warning to customers:
“If anyone arrives at your home or business saying they are from DTE, please ask to see a badge with photo ID. If the person refuses to show their badge, do not allow them inside.
“If you want to verify a worker’s identity or confirm that a vehicle is an authorized company vehicle, please immediately call DTE at 800-477-4747. If the person becomes agitated or acts in a strange manner, insisting that you let them inside, call 911.”