HAZEL PARK, Mich. – Damontez Hill was at a loss for words on Tuesday afternoon following the death of his mother, 41-year-old Linda Hill, and his 12-year-old brother, Kardi Jackson.
Hill’s family is devastated and looking for answers as they sort through how a mother and son could be brutally killed on Labor Day.
“I don’t even know what would make a person do something like this,” Hill, 21, said outside of his mother’s home. “This is [messed] up. I really don’t have too much else to say about it.”
The horrific discovery was made at the home on Berdeno Ave. in Hazel Park on Monday evening. Hazel Park Police are treating the incident as a double homicide, which stunned the quiet neighborhood along 9 Mile Rd. near I-75.
“Everyone helps each other if we need something, you know, they do things for each other so we can all look after each other,” Ofelia de la Rosa, a 50-year resident of the block, said on Tuesday morning. “Nothing like this has ever happened.”
She was particularly horrified at the death of 12-year-old Kardi.
“I can’t even think about it,” she said. “To think that happened to a child. It’s too much.”
“Oh, man, that was my dog,” Demontez Hill said about his younger brother. “He’s like a younger version of me, always playing around and having fun.”
Jackson went to school in Hazel Park. School superintendent Amy Wilcox put out a statement on Monday night that said:
“We regret to inform you of another tragic incident that has occurred within our Hazel Parks Schools community.
The family is in our thoughts, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.
We also have a mental health professional on-site if your child would like to meet with them. If you have any specific concerns regarding your student or how you should help your student at home, please call 248.648.2302.
We will be sharing information on how your community can offer assistance for both families in the coming days.
Please take a moment to hug your children and remind them how much they are loved. Encourage them to be especially compassionate and supportive of their classmates, as you never know what someone else is going through.
Our school counselors and support staff are available to any student who may need someone to talk to, whether they are personally affected by these events or are struggling to process them. We also have compiled a list to connect with other professionals who are trained to handle any kind of emotional distress.
Please encourage your child to reach out if they need help.
If you have questions, concerns or feel that your child is in need of additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will continue to work together as a school community to support you and your child during this very difficult time."
Hazel Park. School Superintendent Amy Wilcox
Police have been vague about what happened at the home on Monday night, only saying that the victims suffered “apparent trauma” before they died.
A Facebook post from Hill’s sister, Lkeisha Whitfield, describes a horrific, bloody scene. She lamented in the post that she normally visited her sister and had just spoken to her not long before the killing.
“How do I move on seeing all that blood?” Whitfield said in the post. “How do I keep moving forward knowing you were trying to get away?”
“I literally talked to my sister every day,” the post continued. “If we’re not on the phone, I’m popping up at her house, and the day I only talked to you on the phone and didn’t stop by this happens only 2 hours after telling me you’ll call me back.”
Whitfield was sitting on the porch at the home on Tuesday afternoon, visibly angry and hurting over the loss of her sister.
Demontez Hill says that he doesn’t know who did it and is asking around, trying to figure out what happened. He was able to find the words to describe his mother.
“Fun as hell, you know, very energetic. Always good vibes, laughing, joking around, just all around good vibes.”
Hazel Park Police don’t have a suspect in custody, but they don’t believe the public is in any immediate danger. The investigation into what happened is ongoing.
The family has also started a GoFundMe for the funeral expenses. You can click on that here for more information.