Detroit man arraigned in estranged wife's slaying

Erin Justice, 28, appears during a video arraignment on murder charges in 36th District Court in Detroit, Mich., Wednesday. Aug. 27, 2014.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this June 10, 2014, file photo, flyers of a missing woman and children are taped to the brick home of Alicia Fox in Detroit.

DETROIT — A Detroit man was arraigned today in the slaying of his estranged wife whose decomposed body was discovered in June in the basement of a vacant house on the city’s west side.

Erin Justice, 28, appears during a video arraignment on murder charges in 36th District Court in Detroit, Mich., Wednesday. Aug. 27, 2014.

Alicia Fox’s two young children have been missing since late May and her relatives believe that her accused husband, Erin Justice, knows their whereabouts.

Justice, 28, appeared via video in Detroit’s 36th District Court as about a dozen members of Fox’s family sat quietly in the gallery. Magistrate Charles W. Anderson III entered a not-guilty plea on Justice’s behalf to first-degree murder and weapons charges in Fox’s death.

Justice will be held without bond pending a Sept. 4 preliminary examination. He was not represented by an attorney.

Prosecutors estimate Fox was fatally shot in the family’s home between May 25 and May 27. Her body was found by a family member in a vacant house June 9 following an anonymous tip.

Justice was arrested June 11 in the Atlanta area. He refused to waive extradition and fought his return to Michigan.

Authorities have yet to locate Kaylah Hunter, 6, and her 8-month-old brother, Kristian Justice. They last were seen with their mother on May 24.

Erin Justice is Kristian’s father.

Volunteers and police searched for the children in vacant houses, backyards, parks and fields earlier in the summer. Fox’s family said today that another search is planned Saturday.

“We’re hoping more tips come in,” said Michael Fields, Fox’s uncle. “Good or bad, we’re going to follow them.”

Fields, 50, said finding the children likely will depend on Justice.

“Just maybe, at some point in time, he’ll come around and say what happened to the children,” said Fields. “We would like them to be returned home safely.”

A second man faces trial on an accessory charge. Timothy Jones, 27, is accused of knowing about the slaying and assisting the killer after it occurred.