ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – The two men who posed as DTE workers and were convicted of murdering 72-year-old Hussein Murray inside his Rochester Hills home were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo appeared in court on Tuesday, Dec. 9, before Judge Yasmine Poles for their sentencing.
Murray’s three sons spoke during the sentencing, describing their father as a brave and kind man.
You can watch the full sentencing in the video at the top of this article.
One son read the following poem, which was written by his mother:
“They have stolen my sunshine, they have stolen my happiness.
They have stolen my reason for living. They have stolen the love of my life.
The world is darker now without the love of my life. Without my companion of 54 years.
The plans we made will never come true. The sadness and tears will never end.
I want to scream, I want to yell. I want to throw things against the wall.
But all I can do is keep it inside for the rest of my life."
Poem written by Hussein Murray's wife that was read in court on Dec. 9
“My father was my hero, and I couldn’t get the idea of his murder out of my head whenever I would remember him,” another son said during the sentencing. “That is something I will never forgive the defendants for because any time I remember any of these warm, wonderful things about my father, I also think about his last moments of terror.”
The oldest son said the defendants committed a “grievous sin that took a vibrant life never to be replaced on this side of heaven.”
He said that the defendants had a right to the trial, but also said, “Just because you have the right to a fair trial doesn’t mean making us sit through a week of it was the right thing to do.”
He said they could have exercised their right to plead guilty, and “own their sin.”
“Instead, they chose to make my mom sit in that box and testify and relive the worst day of her life,” the son said.
After the sons spoke, both Zuazo and Hernandez declined to say anything on the record, as they intend to appeal their convictions.
“Rarely does the court see this level of depravity,” the judge said. “This level of arrogance and greed. Because that’s what that was all based on.”
“Every step on the way to that basement, on your way down with him, you could’ve said enough is enough,” Poles said. “It has gone too far. But you couldn’t, because it’s a cowardice act, because that’s exactly what you are. It is pathetic. Your actions are absolutely pathetic.”
The judge also said nobody knows exactly what happened when they took Murray into the basement, just the aftermath, but hopes it has a lasting impact on Zuazo and Hernandez.
“I’m certain that Mr. Murray fought you with the courage of a man who spent his life protecting his home and his family,” the judge said. “And I hope whatever those last words he said to you or whatever the last moment that he looked at you, haunts you for the rest of your life, because you see, one breath of Mr. Murray’s life doesn’t amount to an ounce of your dignity or worth.”
The judge handed down the sentence and said Zuazo and Hernandez cannot have any contact, direct or indirect, with Mrs. Murray or the rest of the Murray family.
“Hernandez and Zuazo will spend their remaining days behind bars for their reprehensible actions,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a news release. “Sam Murray was beloved by friends and family. Linda Murray continues to suffer from the trauma of that horrible day. While we can never repair the damage done that day, I hope this sentence provides the Murray family with a measure of justice.”
This comes after their trial, which began on Oct. 1 and wrapped up on Oct. 3.
During the trial, 19 witnesses testified before Hernandez, and Zuazo both declined to take the stand.
Previous coverage --> Juries convict 2 men accused of posing as DTE workers, killing Rochester Hills man
The juries found Hernandez and Zuazo guilty of murdering Murray, after deliberating for a short time.
Background
The two men were charged with felony murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. The two allegedly disguised themselves as DTE workers to gain entry to Murray’s home on Oct. 11, 2024.
Murray owned a jewelry store in Hamtramck. During the attack, his wife was present and tied up with duct tape while Murray was killed in the basement.
The woman managed to 911 after freeing herself, and when Oakland County sheriff’s deputies arrived, she told them she believed her husband may have been kidnapped. While searching the home, deputies found Murray’s body in the basement.
Hernandez was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said Hernandez was spotted traveling south on I-49 from Arkansas. Investigators pulled him over and took him into custody.
He was extradited from Louisiana and taken to the Oakland County Jail on Oct. 24, 2024.
After Hernandez was arrested, his wife reportedly told investigators the other suspect was Zuazo, who was then located by law enforcement in Plymouth Township and arrested on Oct. 14, 2024.