BROWNSTOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The case of a woman who was reported missing after her home caught fire has investigators looking at the history of her husband Roger Sweet's.
On Jan. 8, the home of Lizzie Collier-Sweet, 49, caught fire and she was reported missing. Investigators determined the fire was arson.
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Farmington Hills police and the Oakland County medical examiner said they are reclassifying the death 16 years ago of Sweet's first wife as a homicide.
On Thursday, Farmington Hills Police Chief William Dwyer held a news conference on the reclassification of the manner of death and new investigative developments in the death of Marlene Sweet, who died in 1990.
The death was originally classified as accidental, police said.
"Pertaining to one Marlene Sweet I found evidence of multiple blunt force injuries sustained to the head," Oakland County medical examiner Dr. L.J. Dragovic said.
Brownstown Township police Lt. Robert Grant said when Roger Sweet was asked about his current wife's whereabouts, he said if he had to guess she was probably dead in the woods.
On Wednesday, investigators searched a wooded area behind the home for the second time but found nothing. Investigators then obtained a search warrant to go through the burned-out home.
Brownstown Township officials said they confiscated hard drives from computers that were not destroyed in the fire, and found images of child porn and evidence that Roger Sweet may have molested a 19-year-old mentally disabled girl. Roger Sweet is now in police custody.
There is a $6,000 reward being offered. Those who have any information on Lizzie Collier-Sweet or Roger Sweet are being asked to contact Crimestoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP.