DETROIT – A 27-year-old man with a violent criminal history is now facing new charges in a case connected to the same Southwest Detroit neighborhood where three bodies were found in a basement last week.
Lance Clowney is charged with assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a crime on Edsel Street, near the location of the recent triple homicide investigation. Clowney has not been charged in connection with the discovery of the three bodies.
Court records show Clowney has multiple prior felony convictions, including carjacking, armed robbery, felony firearm possession and fleeing police.
In 2017, he was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for carjacking and armed robbery. He was released on parole in January 2025.
Several months later, in May, Clowney appeared in 36th District Court on a new charge of assault and battery. That charge was later reduced to disorderly conduct. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 days in jail, with credit for time served.
Under Michigan law, parole can be revoked if a person commits a new offense while under supervision. Local 4 has asked the Michigan Department of Corrections whether that process was followed in Clowney’s case -- and, if not, why. The department has not yet responded.
We also reached out to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for comment and are awaiting a response.