Chelsea Bruck murder case: 27-year-old Newport man appears in court

MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – A 27-year-old Newport man appeared in court Tuesday morning for a hearing in the slaying of Chelsea Bruck and an unrelated home invasion.

Daniel Clay is charged with second-degree murder in connection with Chelsea Bruck’s death. He is also charged with home invasion and first-degree criminal sexual conduct that allegedly occurred June 9 in Monroe.

Bruck disappeared from a Halloween party in Frenchtown Township in 2014. Her remains were found a year later in Ash Township.

Clay was linked to the death with DNA evidence obtained by Michigan State Police.

Clay appeared in court wearing stripes, with a shaved head and a goatee.

A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 2.

What happened

Bruck’s disappearance after the Halloween party prompted a massive search across several counties. She was last seen wearing a “Poison Ivy” costume consisting of black pants and a green leafed covered top.

The family of the 22-year-old pleaded for help finding Chelsea. Flyers were put up by the community and a ground search intensified.

Her Halloween costume was found six months later at an industrial site. Her body was found in a wooded area near train tracks April 24, 2015.

Dental records were used to confirm the remains belonged to Bruck, and investigators said evidence at the scene indicated a homicide. The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her death a homicide, saying she died from blunt force trauma to the head.

The Arrest

After an exhaustive investigation over nearly two years, 27-year-old Daniel Clay was taken into custody July 22, 2016.

According to a criminal background check, Clay has misdemeanor convictions for possessing controlled substances, breaking and entering, assault, and assaulting/resisting a police officer. He was also arrested in May in the theft of tattoo equipment.

DNA collected from Clay in prior arrests by Michigan State Police allegedly matched DNA found on Bruck’s Halloween costume.

Clay’s home was placed under surveillance and he was taken into custody where he was initially interviewed.

“During the interview, detectives obtained details that only the killer would have known as this information had never been disseminated to the public,” Monroe County Sheriff Dale Malone said.

Clay arraigned

At his arraignment in July, Clay told the judge he didn’t want a bond.

“I don’t want a bond. I’m not even going to ask for one,” Clay told the judge.

Clay asked for a court-appointed attorney, and the judge granted the request for a competency exam. He was found competent to stand trial in August.

Girlfriend of suspect says he confessed to her

Kelli Richter told Local 4 that her boyfriend, the suspect, called her from jail after his arrest and confessed to her.

“He told me that he did it,” Richter said. “I told him no to lie to me and that I wanted the truth, and if you love me, tell me the truth, and he told me he did it on accident.”

Clay had just recently moved to the Frenchtown Villa mobile home park with Richter.

Richter said her boyfriend told her over the phone call he accidentally strangled Bruck.

Timeline

Oct. 26, 2014: Chelsea Bruck vanishes from Halloween party in Monroe County
Bruck went missing on a Saturday night during a party on Post Road in Frenchtown Township. She was last seen wearing a Poison Ivy costume consisting of black pants and a leaf-covered top.

Oct. 29: Bruck's family, friends continue search

Nov. 2: Chelsea Bruck case: Police search for guards
Police searched for the security guards who were hired for the party.

Nov. 4: More info sought from party goers about missing Chelsea Bruck

Nov. 12: Reward now $5,000 in Chelsea Bruck case

Nov. 17: Chelsea Bruck's family appeals for help

Nov. 24: Reward grows to more than $17,000 in case of missing Chelsea Bruck

March 19, 2015: Authorities search Michigan game area for missing Chelsea Bruck
Dozens of law enforcement officers searched Pointe Mouillee Game Area in southeastern Michigan amid an effort to find Bruck.

April 5: New clue in missing Chelsea Bruck case
Police said they found what they believed to be a portion of Bruck's costume in the area of Peters Road and Vreeland in Flat Rock.

April 6: Helicopter, K9 search for Chelsea Bruck in Flat Rock

April 8: Family of missing Monroe County woman awaits information from police

April 24: Construction workers find body in rural Monroe County
Construction workers found the body around 2 p.m. Friday in a wooded area near train tracks in the village of Carleton. Officers from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab and Monroe County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene.

The construction crew was doing excavation work on a piece of property where a man is planning to build a house. The crew discovered the body while checking on a piece of equipment, police said.

April 25: Remains found in Monroe County identified as Chelsea Bruck
Dental records were used to confirm the remains belonged to Bruck, and investigators Saturday said evidence at the scene indicated a homicide.

June 9, 2016: Witness comes forward after pictures released in connection to Chelsea Bruck case
After the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office released photos of a person who was at the party and may have had information, the witness made contact with authorities.

July 22, 2016: Monroe County Sheriff: 27-year-old Newport man in custody in Chelsea Bruck case
After an exhaustive investigation over nearly two years, a 27-year-old Newport man was taken into custody.

July 25, 2016: Suspect in Chelsea Bruck slaying: 'I don't want a bond'
At Daniel Clay's arraignment, he told the judge he didn't want a bond.