Details of a deadly attack on an 80-year-old Royal Oak woman were revealed Tuesday in court at the arraignment of the two people who stand accused.
Nancy Dailey was found dead Nov. 20 in her home on Trafford Road. She had been bound and her throat cut.
A homeless couple, 48-year-old Alan Craig Wood and 40-year-old Tonia Michelle Watson, were taken into custody just days after Dailey's death when they were caught allgedly using the victim's stolen credit card at Meijer in Canton. They had been being held as parole absconders. But on Monday the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office issued charges against them in connection with Dailey's death.
Police said Watson told them she knocked on the door of the victim, while her accomplice broke into a side door.
"Watson stated that Wood threw Nancy Dailey down to the floor and began punching, stomping and kicking her," said Royal Oak Detective Carl Barretto. "Watson then stated that Wood then also attempted to break Dailey's neck. Watson stated that Wood pulled out and unfolded his knife and told her, ‘You know what I have to do.'"
Wood is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, unauthorized use and possession of a financial transaction device and larceny in a building.
Watson is charged with felony murder and unauthorized use and possession of a financial transaction device and larceny in a building.
Both first-degree murder and felony murder carry a mandatory life imprisonment penalty.
Investigators said the couple had been hired by Dailey to do work around her house just days before her killing.
They are both being held without bail.