Slain poker star Susie Zhao met Michigan homeless sex offender in motel before her charred body was found
OAKLAND, MICHIGAN: An Oakland County professional poker player whose charred body was discovered in a remote Michigan parking lot last month had met a transient, homeless man at a hotel the night before her murder, police have revealed.
The White Lake Township Police Department had previously revealed that a local resident had discovered the body of Susie Zhao, 33, next to the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area on the morning of July 13. They had said it was likely that she passed away sometime after 11:45 pm the previous night and think that her high stakes job could have been a motive.
On Tuesday, August 4, authorities formally charged Jeffery Bernard Morris, 60, of Pontiac, in Zhao's death, reported Detroit News. A convicted sex offender, police said Morris is believed to have met with Zhao the night before her body was found in a parking area at Maceday Lake and Cross roads in White Lake Township.
Cell phone records reviewed by local and federal investigators seemed to indicate that the pair met at a Waterford Township motel, though it is still unclear why they had been meeting. However, they did learn that the 33-year-old had stayed at the same motel on several occasions prior to last month.
Morris was arrested last Friday, July 31, on unspecified evidence collected by investigators. Police described him as a transient, homeless person and said they charged him as he lay in the hospital for a non-life-threatening condition.
Dawn Carr, his former landlord, told Fox 2 Detroit that he was a "creeper" and that she evicted him immediately after he moved in. "He answered an ad to rent from me and I rented a basement to him for four months," she revealed. "He seemed like a real creeper to me so I had to get him out of here, so I evicted him."
The 60-year-old has been charged with first-degree, premeditated murder in the slaying of Zhao and is expected to be held in Oakland County Jail after he is discharged. Clarkston District Judge denied bond due to the severity of the crimes and set a probable cause for Aug. 18.
Speaking about the case at a press conference, Detective Lt. Chris Hild admitted investigators are yet to find a motive in Zhao's killing. "This is not the end of the investigation into Susie's death but the beginning of the pursuit of justice for her and her family," he said.
He shared that police were still investigating people who may have information in the death and that they do not have any evidence that it had anything to do with her gambling or card-playing.
Zhao was a professional poker player known in those circles as 'Susie Q.' She had competed in several tournaments, including the 2012 ESPN World Series of Poker Main Event, and earned over $200,000 in prize money.
Following her death, Meredith Rogowski, her friend, had paid her tribute. "She was the freest spirit, in the truest sense," she said. "She played by her own rules. She followed her dreams, absolutely brilliant."
A fellow competitor and friend, Bart Hanson, similarly said, "She really was an excellent player. One of the best in LA at the level we played at the Commerce Casino and it’s the biggest poker room in the world. I never would have thought anyone would’ve wanted to do anything to her. She had such a great attitude and so much spirit. It's just awful."