Monroe County deputies investigate death of 38-year-old man
9/10/2009MONROE - A 38-year-old man was found dead at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 7000 block of South Telegraph Road in Bedford Township, authorities said.
The Monroe County Sheriff's office has not released the name but is investigating the death as a murder.
Sgt. Heath Velliquette, of the sheriff's department, said the man's body was found inside his home at 7052 S. Telegraph Rd. by his father and there was no sign of forced entry, although he declined to give any more details about the death.
The sergeant said the victim was last seen early Tuesday morning and a family member last spoke with him Tuesday night. He also said authorities believe the victim may have known the suspect and that there may be more than one person involved.
Sgt. Velliquette said the victim's car is missing and law enforcement officials are searching for the 2007 silver Ford Fusion with Michigan vanity license plates that spell Fusion.
Ronnie Vance has lived next door to the man's home since January and said he was awakened at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday by police who said that his neighbor was dead and they were looking for blood traces.
Mr. Vance said he heard his neighbor's dog "bark pretty excitedly just before dawn yesterday," but heard nothing else that indicated a crime had occurred.
The 51-year-old man said he had never seen his neighbor, saying he kept to himself and was very quiet, but that he kept a very neat lawn.
"It's pretty scary," Mr. Vance said, adding that if the crime proves to be a random burglary, that could cause him to move because "it could have been me."