Blood trail leads Michigan homeowners to baseball bat attack victim who escaped from river

Man, woman accused of hitting victim on head with bat, throwing him in river

Jessica Kropiewnicki and Christopher Simons (WDIV)

LYON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A man and a woman are accused of hitting a man on the head with a baseball bat and throwing him in a river after the owners of a home in Oakland County found the victim bleeding in their bathroom, according to authorities.

Man found bleeding in bathroom

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Deputies were called at 8:16 a.m. May 5 to a home in the 26000 block of Martindale Road in Lyon Township.

The owners of the home said they had found their front door forced open with blood throughout the inside and outside of the house.

When they searched the home, the owners said they found a man covered in blood in their bathroom. They said he was conscious and breathing, but had obvious head injuries, according to authorities.

Baseball bat attack

Lyon Township firefighters and medical officials took the man to a nearby hospital, where he told them he had been attacked by multiple people with a baseball bat.

He is a 30-year-old Northville resident, police said. He's currently stable despite his significant injuries.

Detectives said the man had entered the Lyon Township home to get help for his injuries, so it is not being considered a home invasion.

The man provided partial information about the identities of the people responsible for the baseball bat attack, police said.

Police search attack scene

On May 7, Lyon Township officials learned that the Livingston County Sheriff's Office had arrested one of the two possible suspects in an unrelated case.

During the arrest, the suspect had given officers voluntary information about the assault in Lyon Township, police said.

Detectives used that information to find the crime scene where the man had been attacked, according to authorities.

While searching the scene, detectives said they found a pair of glasses that had been worn by the victim in his driver's license photo.

Man, woman charged

The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office issued warrants for assault with intent to murder.

Jessica Kropiewnicki, 24, of Lyon Township, and Christopher Simons, 28, of Fowlerville, were taken into custody.

Jessica Kropiewnicki (WDIV)

Kropiewnicki was arraigned Friday in 52-1 District Court. She is being held in lieu of $1 million bail with no 10 percent and GPS tethering if she is released.

Simons was arraigned Saturday in 52-4 District Court. He is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail with no 10 percent and GPS tethering if he is released.

Kropiewnicki and Simons are scheduled to return to court May 22 for a probable cause conference.

Christopher Simons (WDIV)

About the Author:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.