OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The trial for the two men accused of posing as DTE Energy workers and killing a 72-year-old man inside his Oakland County home resumes Wednesday morning.
Carlos Jose Hernandez, 37, and Joshua Zuazo, 39, were charged with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment.
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They are accused of posing as utility workers to get inside the home of Linda Murray and her husband Hussein, who was the owner of a Hamtramck jewelry store, on Oct. 11, 2024, in Rochester Hills.
Linda was allegedly tied up with duct tape and hit by the defendants, and her husband was killed in the basement of their home.
What to know about the case
In October 2024, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said that two fake DTE Energy workers went to the home and claimed to be looking into a gas leak.
Linda said the men first came to her home at 10 p.m. the night before, but they were not allowed inside.
But when they showed up again on Oct. 11, the couple let the men in, Bouchard said.
“They came back this morning with the same thing, said there was a gas leak,” Bouchard said on Oct. 11, 2024. “They were allowed into the house. The husband went to the basement with them where the gas comes into the house and the wife never saw him again -- never saw him come up.”
When the fake workers returned from the basement, they tied the woman up with duct tape and spent at least 20 minutes searching the home, police said.
When deputies arrived at the home, they found Linda still bound by duct tape and Hussein in the basement.
Hernandez and Zuazo weren’t found by authorities until days following the crime. Hernandez was found in Louisiana, and Zuazo was found in Plymouth Township.
Trial begins
The men’s trial began on Monday, Sept. 29.
In an uncommon situation, there are two sets of juries for the trial -- a jury for each defendant. This way, the trial can be done simultaneously while the jurors can hear witness testimonies at the same time since Hernandez and Zuazo face the same charges.
Jury selection began Monday and were seated Tuesday afternoon.
Opening statements began at around 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 and continue into Wednesday morning.