Business owner killed, wife duct taped by fake DTE workers in Oakland County home

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – A business owner was murdered and his wife was duct taped by fake DTE Energy workers who were allowed inside the couple’s Oakland County home.

Deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office were called just before noon Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, to a home on Newcastle Drive in Rochester Hills.

Fake DTE Energy workers

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.

The home belongs to a 72-year-old Wayne County business owner and his wife.

The wife said the men first came to her home at 10 p.m. Thursday, but they were not allowed inside.

But when they showed up again Friday, 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. “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.”

Husband killed, wife duct taped

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.

It’s unclear what, if anything, was taken.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found the woman still bound by duct tape and the man dead in the basement.

“We’re not sure exactly the cause (of death),” Bouchard said. “Quite frankly, because there was so much blood, we’re not sure.”

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital. Bouchard said she’s traumatized.

Search for 2 men

Bouchard said police are canvassing the neighborhood, searching for the two men.

One is described as thin, and the other is described as heavy-set.

They were driving a white pickup truck with a DTE placard on the side, Bouchard said.

Early stages of investigation

This investigation is still in its early stages, and all information is preliminary, Bouchard said.

Right now, they don’t know why the home was targeted.

“Lots of times, when people are small business owners, they become a target for assets or cash that sometimes they may bring home,” Bouchard said.

The case is being investigated as a homicide.

Here’s the full briefing from Bouchard: