Detroit homicide still unsolved after 6 years

Family wants answers in Charles McGlown's murder

DETROIT – Charles McGlown was slain six years ago and his killer has never been caught. His family is still wondering who wanted him dead and why.

McGlown was killed in cold blood -- shot to death in his own apartment -- and after all this time, the person responsible is still a mystery.

"I can't believe it's been six years," Ella McGlown said. "Seems like yesterday or today. Hard to believe it's been six years."

Ella McGlown, 72, never dreamed she would bury her youngest son.

Charles McGlown was a popular barber, a stylist to the stars. He catered to celebrities like Barry White and El Debarge. His work earned him the nickname "Famous."

"He knew a lot of people," Ella said. "He would also travel with the stars."

The father of three left Bloomfield and moved into an apartment building on Normandy and West McNichols in Detroit, where he opened up a shop in the basement.

"He was a very humble person," Ella said. "He was a well-known barber. He had been working since he was a teenager."

On Sunday, July 11, 2010, Ella remembers hearing someone at her front door.

"Someone was really, really knocking at the door," she said.

Before seeing anyone at her front door, the phone call came from Ella's daughter, Laurie. She said something happened to Charles. Ella remembers driving over to his apartment, just before 2 p.m.

"I got there and I saw the yellow strips everywhere and cars and people," she said. "I was really confused and before I could get there and park the car, that's when Laurie was telling me, 'Mom, Charles is dead.' And I was like, maybe I am not hearing what she's saying."

Police found Charles' body on his sofa, where they believe he had fallen asleep just before he was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range.

"My heart was just pounding," Ella said. "I was just like, 'What happened? What happened? What happened? No one knew."

Even more mysterious: There weren't any signs of forced entry, so whoever did it got inside his apartment easily and quietly.

The crime scene was gruesome. Police didn't let anyone but detectives inside until after they removed McGlown's body.

His mom still questions detectives about what she saw.

"If you are shot in the back of your head, and you are laying flat on your back, how did the brain matter get on the wall?" she asked. "I can understand the blood on the floor, but I never understood the brain matter."

She's not the only one. McGlown's family has a lot of questions, like who would have could have gotten inside this apartment and who would have wanted to kill this young father of three.

After what's been a six-year-long ordeal for the family, police are no closer to finding the killer than they were the day McGlown was killed.

"I hope someone comes forward," Ella said. "I pray for whoever did that, their family and their repentance."

The reward for any information in the case is now close to $9,000 through Crime Stoppers. The family is hoping someone will anonymously provide some information that leads to the killer.


About the Authors:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.