BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 45-year-old man is accused of burglarizing a dead man’s house to support his drug habit.
According to authorities, the break-in happened in late February at a Bloomfield Township home on Raven Road, near Kingsmill Drive. Police said the owner of the home had died on Feb. 15 and the house was broken into at some point between Feb. 19-27. Several items and cash were taken from the home.
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Authorities with Grosse Pointe Woods contacted the Bloomfield Township Police Department and said they had arrested Jerry Ryan Ashley in connection with a home invasion. When they searched his Detroit home, several items were recovered that reportedly connected him to the Bloomfield Township burglary.
Police said Ashley had done yardwork for the victim a year ago and reportedly told police he was searching obituaries, saw that the victim had died and broke into the home to steal items to support his drug habit.
Ashley is accused of using obituaries to burglarize homes in Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Novi, Farmington Hills, Ann Arbor, Shelby Township, Canton Township and more. Police said he would read obituaries and target the homes of someone who recently died or entered homes when families were at a funeral.
Background: Man accused of using obituaries to steal from Metro Detroit homes of recently deceased
For the Bloomfield Township burglary, Ashley was charged Friday, April 12, with breaking and entering a building with intent. His bond was set at $250,000.
He remains in custody for the Grosse Point Woods home invasions.