Suspects in Michigan slaying are picked up near Bowling Green

4/20/2006
  • Suspects-in-Michigan-slaying-are-picked-up-near-Bowling-Green

    Craig
    • Craig
    Craig

    BOWLING GREEN - Two Michigan residents wanted in connection with a homicide this week near Ypsilanti were picked up by a Wood County sheriff's deputy early yesterday after their car ran out of gas on a rural road just west of Bowling Green.

    Amy Thompson, 27, of Canton, Mich., and Frankie Craig, 26, of Ypsilanti were taken into custody about 12:25 a.m. on Liberty Hi Road just south of Long Judson Road, then booked at the Wood County jail. Detectives from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office transported them to Ann Arbor after they waived extradition to Michigan yesterday afternoon.

    Commander Dave Egeler of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office in Ann Arbor said the pair were wanted in connection with the slaying of Charles Lau, 63, who was found dead Tuesday in a mobile home behind a Ypsilanti Township motel where he worked. Investigators believe he was killed late Monday or early Tuesday.

    "We put information out areawide, including a nationwide bulletin that we were looking for a couple persons in a vehicle that we thought were involved in the homicide," Commander Egeler said.

    Thompson
    Thompson

    Wood County officials found the suspects purely by chance.

    Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said Deputy Kert Appehlans was on routine patrol when he came across what appeared to be a disabled vehicle on Liberty Hi Road. He checked the car's registration and found that Washtenaw County was looking for the vehicle and the two occupants in connection with a homicide investigation.

    He called for a backup and two Bowling Green officers came to the scene, but Sheriff Wasylyshyn said the suspects did not resist arrest when approached by Deputy Applehans.

    "I was glad no one got hurt," the sheriff said. "[Mr. Craig] had a loaded weapon with him but he fortunately did not use it."

    Deputies impounded the car for Washtenaw County.

    Commander Egeler declined to elaborate on charges pending against Ms. Thompson and Mr. Craig. He said his department does not release that information until the suspects have been arraigned in court.