


The second of two suspects in the murder of a 72-year-old Rochester Hills man is now behind bars in Michigan after he was extradited from Louisiana, authorities said Friday.
Carlos Hernandez, 37, of Dearborn, was arraigned Friday in the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills where Judge Laura Polizzi denied bond, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald said in a press release.
Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo, 39, also of Dearborn, each face charges of felony murder, which is punishable by life in prison, and two counts of unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year felony.
The men are accused of posing as DTE Energy workers on Oct. 11, when they were allowed into the the home of Hussein Murray. The 72-year-old victim was the owner of Gold & Glitter Jewelry in Hamtramck. Authorities have said they suspect Murray was targeted in connection to his business.
“This was a shocking crime, both in the deception used to invade the victims’ home, and in the brutality of the murder itself,” McDonald said in the release. “Posing as utility workers to invade the home of an elderly couple created fear in the entire community, and I applaud the Sheriff’s Office and our other law enforcement partners for quickly apprehending this defendant and bringing him back to Michigan.”
According to Oakland County Sheriff’s officials, Zuazo and Hernandez visited Murray’s house on Oct. 10, claiming to be there to check on a gas leak, but were denied entry. They returned the next day and were let inside.
Authorities said that after entering the home, the suspects went with Murray into the basement, purportedly to check for the supposed leak. Instead, officials said, they murdered Murray, bound his 72-year wife’s hands with duct tape and ransacked the premises.
After the assailants left, the woman was able to break free and dial 911.
Hernandez was arrested the next day in Shreveport, La. He had been held in the Caddo Corrections Center in Shreveport prior to extradition.
Zuazo was arrested Oct. 14 in Plymouth Township. He was arraigned Oct. 18. Like Hernandez, he has been denied bond.
Zuazo’s next court appearance is 10 a.m. Tuesday. Hernandez’s is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 4.