Bob Bashara's daughter: He saw my mother as very critical of him

Daughter takes stand in murder trial against Grosse Pointe Park man

DETROIT – Bob Bashara's daughter took the witness stand Thursday, refusing to look at her father.

Jessica Bashara's testimony gave a glimpse at life inside the Bashara home in the months leading up to her mother's murder.

"I was very upset by it and voiced my concern to my mother and she was upset that I was upset," Jessica said.

She was talking about the day she apparently caught her father on an adult website. She said she saw him on alt.com. She eventually confronted her father and asked him why he would be on such a pornographic S&M website.

"He told me that he was on pornographic websites because he had been experiencing erectile dysfunction and he wanted to know if the problem was with him or my mother," said Jessica.

While on the stand, Jessica also revealed she had never heard the name Joe Gentz until after the murder. While she was aware there were problems in the relationship between her mother and father, Jessica said she was unaware her father was in a relationship with Rachel Gillett.

"He did see (my mother) as being very critical of him," said Jessica. "Overly critical. I believe it was in respect to work as a salesman and with the rental properties."

Jessica's brother, Robert Bashara, also testified on Thursday.

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Jane Bashara was found strangled on Jan. 25, 2012 inside her SUV that was parked in a Detroit alley, a few miles from the family's Grosse Pointe Park home.

More: Prosecution reveals 4 key pieces of evidence

Gentz, who worked as a handyman for Bob Bashara, has pleaded guilty to killing her, but saying he did so at her husband's behest.

Bob Bashara is already in prison after being convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill Gentz.

Gentz will not testify.

More: Bashara murder trial: Investigators testify


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.