Michigan family fights to find truth in Grosse Pointe Woods mother's death

Joann Matouk Romain last seen 2 years ago; police ruled it suicide

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. – Two years ago on this day, Joann Matouk Romain was last seen by her family.

The 55-year-old Grosse Pointe Woods woman's body later was found in the Detroit River. Grosse Pointe police ruled her death a suicide.

Now, family members believe that they have new information which will reopen the case.

"It's difficult but, you know, this keeps us going. Justice will be served at some point in time," said Romain's daughter, Michelle Romain.

New witnesses have come forward with information that could prompt police to reopen an investigation into the cause of Romain's death.

"The police indicated and made the public believe that it was a suicide when, as you can see now, it clearly was not," said Michelle Romain.

She was last spotted along the Detroit River in Grosse Pointe Farms. It was after an investigation that police ruled she committed suicide.

But her family, lead by Michelle Romain, was never convinced this was the way Joann died. Michelle Romain hired an attorney to sue both Grosse Pointe Woods and Grosse Pointe Farms police.

Since the lawsuits, Michelle Romain said several witnesses have come forward claiming they saw Joann along the Detroit River on the night of her disappearance and that she looked like she was a victim.

"(A witness) saw Ms. Romain's car parked on this side of the road with two other vehicles, one in front of it and one behind it. One of the gentlemen signaled, indicating as if he had a gun in his pocket and told them to keep moving along," said family attorney Jeffrey Lance Abood.

Michelle Romain said her mother told her she believed she was being followed in the weeks leading up to her death, but she didn't go into detail about who was following her.

The family's lawsuit with police is still pending.

JoAnn Matouk Romain