Intruder who brutalized elderly couple arraigned for home invasion

Elderly couple beaten, tied up in Westland home on Labor Day

WESTLAND, Mich. – The intruder who police say brutalized an elderly couple in their Westland home was arraigned Monday on several charges including: home invasion, carjacking, and assault by strangulation.

Oliver Thornton was also charged as a fourth time habitual offender.

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On August 31, a man broke into the home of an elderly couple on Joy Road. The couple was attacked, beaten and tied up.

The suspect robbed them of their cash, credit cards, jewelry, and television before stealing their car.

After several hours the couple was able to free themselves and ran to a neighbor's home to call 911. Within hours Westland police located the couple's stolen car in Detroit.

An investigation led police to Thornton who is a recent parolee.

When Thornton was arrested, police say, he was still in possession of much of the couple's stolen property.

Other stolen items were also discovered that linked Thornton to several home invasions in Livonia. Bond was set at $ 2 million cash and his preliminary is Sept. 26.

Thornton's prior convictions include several home invasions, first degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

He was paroled in March after serving time for home invasion.

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