OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – One of two men accused of pretending to be DTE Energy workers to gain access to a Rochester Hills home where a man was murdered and a woman was tied up has been charged with murder.
Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, of Dearborn, has been charged by Oakland County prosecutors with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. Hernandez was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said Hernandez was spotted traveling south on I-49 from Arkansas. Investigators pulled him over and took him into custody. He is also wanted in Ohio for an armed robbery warrant.
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Hernandez is accused of murdering Hussein Murray, 72.
Details
Murray was killed at his home in the 3700 block of Newcastle Drive in Rochester Hills on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
Prosecutors said Hernandez and another man, who is still unidentified, went to the Rochester Hills home at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, posing as DTE Energy workers and told the couple they were there to check a gas leak. The homeowners spoke with them through the Ring camera, but did not allow them inside the home. The suspects returned to the home at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, and were allowed inside.
Murray signed a piece of paper that the suspects told him was from DTE and then led the two men into the basement. When the two men returned from the basement, Murray was not with them.
They tied the woman up with duct tape and asked where the money and jewelry were, according to prosecutors. They duct-taped her wrists and ankles. They spent at least 20 minutes searching the home, according to police. Prosecutors said they took the woman’s phone and watch and left.
The woman called 911 and when deputies arrived she told them she believed her husband may have been kidnapped. While searching the home, deputies found Murray’s body in the basement. Due to the extent of the injuries, deputies said the cause of death was not immediately clear.
If convicted on the felony murder charge, Hernandez faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. Unlawful imprisonment is a felony punishable by up to 15 years and/or a fine up to $20,000.
2nd suspect still at large
The suspects left the murder scene in an older-model white pickup truck with a DTE Energy sign on the side.
The other suspect in this case has not been taken into custody. He has been described as thin. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is still seeking information and tips about the second suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest. Tipsters will remain anonymous.
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.”
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