60-year-old Pontiac man arrested in connection with murder of professional poker player

Susie Zhao's body found badly burned

The body of Susie Zhao, 33, from Waterford Township was identified on July 20, 2020 after remains were discovered near a park in White Lake Township on July 13. Police are asking anyone who say Zhao on July 11 to contact them immediately. Photo provided by the White Lake Township Police Department. (WDIV)

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – On Saturday, police released more details about the arrest made in connection with the murder of Waterford Township resident Susie Zhao.

The 33-year-old professional poker player’s body was found badly burned July 13 near the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area. Zhao recently moved from California to Michigan.

Recommended Videos



Police say the man in custody is a 60-year-old Pontiac resident. The case will be forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office in the next couple days for review.

Details

On Thursday, detectives from the White Lake Township Police Department secured search warrants for the homicide investigation. Detectives and the FBI task force began searching for a suspect vehicle named in one of the search warrants. On Friday, at about 9 a.m. detectives were notified by the FBI task force about the location of the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was stopped in the area of I-275 and Michigan Avenue and search warrants were executed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online here.


Recommended Videos