Joe Gentz's mother speaks out before son's sentencing for role in Jane Bashara's murder

Joe Gentz to be sentence for his role in murder of Grosse Pointe Park mother, Jane Bashara

DETROIT – Joe Gentz's mother is sending an emotional message to Jane Bashara's mother Lorraine.

Though they have never met, the mothers are connected by tragedy. On Tuesday, Joe Gentz will be sentenced for his role in Jane Bashara's murder.

"You would never think something like that could happen to your family. And that's what Jane's mother is going through, her daughter was taken away through a horrible, horrible incident," said Gentz's mother. "Our prayers are with them, and I have been praying for her and her family."

Gentz's mother is convinced her son was forced to kill Jane and that Jane's husband, Bob Bashara, orchestrated everything.

"Joe would have never just ... why would he want to? He wouldn't have been able to do that," she said. "He had told his brother that he had quit his job and that he was moving to Grosse Pointe and he was going to make a lot of money. This is what (Bob) Bashara told him."

Full coverage: Grosse Pointe Park woman's murder mystery

Joe Gentz eventually went to police and told investigators he did kill Jane, but that Bob Bashara made him do it.

"I have to give him a lot of credit for doing that, that he knew he did wrong and that he wanted everyone to know that he was forced into doing this," Gentz's mother said.

Later, Bob Bashara himself was charged with hiring a hit-man to kill Joe Gentz in jail.

Now, as Joe Gentz waits to learn his fate, his family is beginning to deal with a loss of their own, knowing the Joe they once knew is likely gone forever.

"I'll probably never see him again unless I go to prison. He's going to be in the pictures of all your kids at Christmas time and stuff, he's not going to be there," his mother said.


About the Author:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.