Michigan woman killed mother, kept murder hidden from family for months by texting from victim's phone: Cops
ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN: A 50-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly murdering her 69-year-old mother and then using the latter's mobile phone to send text messages to family members to make it look as if she was still alive, police said. The accused has been identified as Carol Rey, 50.
Deputies from the Roseville Police Department went to a house in the 29000 Block of Congress Street, Roseville, at around 10 am on January 14 after the victim's family called them for a welfare check on their grandmother, according to the Detroit Free Press.
When they questioned Rey, she was being evasive about the whereabouts of her mother, and so, they obtained a warrant to search the residence. The same afternoon, they found the elderly woman's body in a large plastic storage container in the garage. They subsequently determined that she had been killed after she was shot in the back of the head sometime in November 2019 and said her body was later moved to the garage, which was detached from the main residence.
They further said that Rey managed to hide her mother's death from other family members by using the slain woman's phone to send text messages. They also said that Rey continued to make transactions on the 69-year-old's financial accounts.
"Basically they got a feeling the story just wasn't adding up. It seemed a little strange," said Deputy Chief Donald Glandon of the Roseville Police to Fox Detroit. "Her remains were found in the garage, which is a detached garage to the home itself. Just a total tragedy. Not only did they lose the grandmother in the family, but now you have another family member who stands accused of being the one who caused the death."
Rey was arrested in connection with the murder, and another 34-year-old man, reportedly an acquaintance, was also detained for questioning but was later released.
The 50-year-old was arraigned on January 17 at Macomb County’s 39th District Court and faces charges of first-degree murder, felony firearm, and larceny of $20,000 or more. She was denied bond during the hearing and is scheduled to return for her next appearance on January 29.
If convicted of her first-degree murder, Rey faces life in prison.
"The ability of the defendant to take her own mother’s life and then cover the murder up for two months, by keeping the victim in the garage, is unfathomable," said prosecutor Eric Smith. "Our hearts go out to the other family, and friends, of the victim as they try to make sense of this unnecessary tragedy."