HOMICIDES ON THE RISE
26 people were victims of slayings so far in 2022
The horror of homicide.
A life ended, often violently, at the hands of someone else.
And loved ones left behind to grapple with intense sorrow as they deal with devastating loss, their own lives shattered.
Midway through 2022 in Oakland County, homicide has claimed the lives of at least 26 people — double the number of victims compared to the number this time last year. Through June 30, 2021, 13 homicides had been reported in the county. By year’s end, 35 lives had been ended that way.
If the current trend continues, the number of homicides reported for 2022 will markedly surpass the totals reported in recent years — and may even set a record for Oakland County.
As reported for the county:
• 2020 — 26 homicides
• 2019 — 21 homicides
• 2018 — 29 homicides
• 2017 — 17 homicides
So far this year, Pontiac leads the county with 10 reported homicides: six fatal shootings, two deaths from a house fire determined to be arson and two deaths by asphyxiation. Three homicides have been reported in Groveland Township, two each in Hazel Park, Independence Township, Oak Park and White Lake Township, and one each in Ferndale, Oxford Township, Rochester Hills, Southfield, Troy and Wixom.
Four of the victims were children, ages 4, 6, 7 and 16.
Other possible cases are pending further investigation, autopsy results and prosecutor review.
The victims, starting with the most recent, and the status of their cases as of June 30:
Daniel Brotemarkle
Daniel Brotemarkle, died June 27 after being shot multiple times outside his home on Woodland Drive in Pontiac. He was 25.
Investigators with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said an al
tercation at work between Brotemarkle and his supervisor led to the shooting. Deputies dispatched to the scene found Brotemarkle lying unresponsive on Woodland Drive. He was transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
The suspected shooter was arrested within an hour of the shooting. As of July 1, officials hadn’t released his name and charges hadn’t been announced.
Jaquann Garrett
Jaquann Garrett died June 13, three days after he was shot in the head following an argument in Pontiac, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. He was 29.
The shooting happened in the area of Firelite Lane and Cherry Hill Drive. Charged with the murder is Tony Fong Woo III, 22.
Witnesses told deputies that Woo fled the scene after the shooting, the sheriff’s office said. On June 15, he turned himself in to police at Detroit’s 8th Precinct. Members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Team and detectives subsequently transported him to the Oakland County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for July 28.
Raymond Davis
Raymond Davis, 45, was found dead June 6 in the parking lot of the North Hill Farms apartments in Pontiac. He had been shot multiple times.
Jaydrian Munson, a 38-year-old felon from Pontiac, is charged with firstdegree premeditated homicide, felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Munson is accused of opening fire on Davis in a parking lot near Cherry Hill Drive and West Fairmount Avenue in the North Hill Farms apartment complex. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responding to a report of gunfire found Davis lying there with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Munson was arrested later that day near East Pike and Woodward Avenue
Sheriff Mike Bouchard said 26 shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Davis and Munson reportedly had an argument prior to the shooting.
Munson has prior convictions for domestic violence, assault and battery, and carrying a concealed weapon. His next scheduled court date is July 19.
Daniel Hutchinson
Daniel Hutchinson, 47, of Pleasant Ridge, died June 1 after being shot multiple times while in his car outside a pawn shop he recently purchased on Greenfield Road in Oak Park. Hutchinson, popular with rappers and other entertainers, was also the owner of Hutch’s Jewelry, down the street from the pawn shop.
Roy Larry, 44, is charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of felony. Police said Larry was on a motorbike when he approached Hutchinson and fired multiple shots at him. Officers called to the scene performed CPR on Hutchinson before he was transported to a local hospital where he died.
Larry’s next scheduled court date is July 11.
Cameron Duckworth, Drake Mancuso
Cameron Duckworth, 20, and Drake Mancuso, 16, were found shot to death May 21 in a wooded area in Cedarbrook Estates mobile home park in White Lake Township. The two were friends who had lived in Highland Township. Facing murder and armed robbery charges are Steven Morrow, 18, and Jesse
Wright, 18. According to investigators, the four had agreed to meet in the mobile home park and then Morrow shot them.
Investigators also said Morrow and Wright stole a watch, backpack and cash from Duckworth and Mancuso, and Wright drove the getaway car.
The next court date for Morrow and Wright is scheduled for July 13.
Ray Muscat, Bishop Taverner
Ray Muscat, 24, of Independence Township, and Bishop Taverner, 22, of Ann Arbor, were found fatally shot May 8 at a home in Independence Township. Investigators determined that Ruby Taverner, 22, was the shooter. Ruby Taverner died by suicide May 8.
Ruby Taverner was Bishop Taverner’s sibling and Muscat’s live-in partner. Ruby Taverner was the former Martin Taverner, and Ray Muscat was formerly known as Amber Muscat.
Dennis Kendrick
Dennis Kendrick, 54, died April 20 after being shot multiple times at close range with a 9mm firearm as he sat in his car in the parking lot of the Abbey Ridge Apartment Homes complex on East Market Street in Oxford Township. He was preparing to leave for work when Marcus Anthony Nathan, 36, approached him and fired at him, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said.
Nathan had received a threatening text message and mistakenly assumed it was sent by Kendrick, the sheriff’s office said. He’s charged with with open murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Kendrick was the single father of a 15-year-old boy, Karmari, an Oxford High School student.
Nathan’s next court date is scheduled as a competency hearing on Aug. 18.
Tobby Farrington
Tobby Farrington, 50, was found dead March 25 in a grassy area in the 100 block of South Merrimac Street near Terry Lake in Pontiac. His body was naked and partly wrapped in a bedroom comforter and he had a plastic bag over his head, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said. He’d been beaten, stabbed multiple times and strangled with a rope, causing his death by asphyxiation.
Alice Marie Anthony, 50, Brian Catorie Bonner, 41, and Romaro Lee Wilson, 28, are charged with open murder and concealing the death of an individual.
According to the sheriff’s office, Farrington was killed inside a home near Saginaw Street and Woodward Avenue where he had been staying, getting drugs from Anthony in exchange for performing odd jobs around the house. Wilson also lived there and Bonner was a frequent visitor, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives believe Anthony became angry at Farrington over a financial transaction, the sheriff’s office said.
The next scheduled court date for Farrington’s accused killers is Sept. 30.
Margaret Mack
Margaret Mack, 72, was found dead on March 24 at her home in the Legacy Place Apartments in Southfield. She had been shot multiple times. Her grandson, Desjuan Mack, 23, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
Desjuan Mack had recently moved back to Michigan from Minnesota and was living with his grandmother as he had done multiple times in the past. Family members were bewildered that he would shoot his grandmother because the two reportedly got along very well and there was no indication of problems between them.
Desjuan Mack is scheduled to return to court July 14 for a preliminary exam.
Ariah Jackson
Ariah Jackson, of Pontiac, died from a single gunshot wound to the back of her head in a drive-by shooting on March 18. She was seven years old.
The shooting happened outside a home near Paddock and Wilson streets in Pontiac where Ariah lived with her family. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Ariah’s mother, Lashawn Jackson, had just returned home after picking up Ariah, her sister and her two cousins from a bus stop. A car reportedly followed them from the bus stop to the residence, and then one person opened fire at the car while it was in the driveway. Deputies rushed her to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Ariah’s mother, Lashawn Jackson, suffered a grazing wound to the head and denied treatment at the hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
The accused shooter, Justin Jayshon Rouser, 19, of Pontiac, is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to murder and five counts of possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony. JaJuan Calvin McDonald, 17, faces the same 10 felony charges. Daejion Markese Bryant, 21, of Troy, is also charged in connection with the crime. He’s accused of lying to a police officer during a violent crime investigation, a 4-year felony. All 3 are purported members of the 4-Block street gang.
Investigators say they’ve found no evidence that the three defendants knew Ariah or her family. A probable cause conference for Rouser, McDonald and Bryant is scheduled for July 29.
Jaice DuPont
Jaice DuPont, of Wixom, died March 10 while hospitalized for a head injury he had suffered five days earlier. He was four years old.
Accused of killing the child is Deangelo Hawkins, 30, who was the boyfriend of DuPont’s mother at the time. He faces one count each of felony murder and first-degree child abuse in connection with Jaice’s death.
The injury happened while Hawkins was caring for the little boy and Jaice’s mother was at work, police said.
Police, firefighters and paramedics, responding to a call for help from Hawkins at The Village apartments, found the child unconscious and struggling to breathe, police said. He had a severe injury to his skull, and Hawkins was the only adult with him at the time he was hurt, police said.
Jaice was transported to a local hospital and then transferred to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor where he later died.
Hawkins’ next scheduled court date is Aug. 23.
Konrad Imirowicz
Konrad Imirowicz, 64, of Groveland Township, died March 6, six months after suffering injuries from being doused with drain cleaner. According to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office, the cause of death was chemical burns with complications, and the death was ruled a homicide.
Imirowicz’s daughter, 18-year-old Megan Joyce Imirowicz, is charged with unlawful possession or use of harmful devices — imitation/irritants — causing death, punishable by up to life in prison. She’s also charged with misdemeanor domestic violence.
Megan Imirowicz is accused of throwing lye powder and water on her father last October. He was burned on his head, torso and extremities, and she was arrested after Michigan State Police troopers spoke with Konrad Imirowicz at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc where he was being treated.
Megan Imirowicz reportedly left her father unconscious and alone at their home after the incident. Her friend reportedly went to the house and found Konrad Imirowicz severely injured and confused, then called 911. Konrad Imirowicz reportedly remained hospitalized until a few days before his death when he was sent home under hospice care.
Megan Imirowicz’s next scheduled court date is July 19.
Name not released
A 35-year-old man was found dead March 5 in a home in Groveland Township. Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw has shared little about the investigation but said the death was determined to be from homicide. Shaw also said a suspect had been identified but as of July 1 no charges had been announced.
Name not released
A 6-year-old girl was the victim of an apparent murder-suicide March 1 at the Troy home on Brentwood Drive where she had lived with her parents. Her alleged killer was her father, 52, who police say killed himself in his car with the same handgun he used to shoot his daughter and his 39-year-old wife, who survived.
The man died by suicide in the parking lot of the Northfield Hizlls Condominium Complex clubhouse. Police declined to release the names of the victims and the shooter.
Troy Jones
Troy Jones, 49, of Pontiac, was shot to death on Feb. 19.
Julius Darnell Standifer Sr., 52, also of Pontiac, is charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder and two counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony for the shooting which reportedly happened in the parking lot of a party store in the 500 block of Franklin Road in Pontiac.
Jones’ girlfriend, 38, of Pontiac, was shot in the hand.
Jones and Standifer were acquaintances, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Jones reportedly had picked up Standifer in his car shortly before the shooting. Investigators say Standifer fired on Jones while sitting in the back seat of the car.
Standifer’s next scheduled court date is July 5.
Mary Lackamp
Mary Lackamp, 89, of Berkley, died Feb. 18, three days after the SUV she was riding in was hit by another SUV, driven by a man fleeing Ferndale police.
Harris Howard, 28, of Florida is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of fleeing/eluding police. The crash happened Feb. 15 at Wyoming and 8 Mile roads.
Lackamp, a former administrator at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, was reportedly on her way home from a basketball game at the school, traveling with an art teacher from the school and the teacher’s husband.
According to Ferndale police, Howard was driving 70 mph in a 40 mph zone just before the crash, and officers attempted to pull him over. Howard reportedly slowed down and activated his vehicle’s emergency flashers, but then sped off. Officers followed Howard for less than a minute before he ran a red light and crashed into the SUV, police said.
Along with the murder charge, Howard faces two felony counts of fleeing and eluding police. Trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8 in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Howard has multiple felony convictions in four other states, mostly for theft, and resisting and obstructing police, and was wanted in Texas for an outstanding drug charge, police said. He was released from a Pennsylvania prison a few months before the deadly crash.
Cathy Miller
Cathy Miller, 70, was found shot to death Feb. 16 at her home in Groveland
Township. Her husband, Howard Miller, 79, called police to their home and reportedly told deputies who arrived on the scene that he had shot his wife. A judge ordered him to undergo psychiatric evaluation for competency.
Miller’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 2.
Antonio Lee Mayes
Antonio Lee Mayes, 32, was killed Feb. 7 at his mother’s home in the Phoenix Place Apartments in Pontiac. He’d been shot six times, according to investigators.
Charged with open murder and a firearms offense in connection with the slaying is Stanford Clirteese Sharp, Jr., 18, the boyfriend of Mayes’ niece.
The niece, 17, testified during a preliminary exam that Mayes was drunk and made sexual remarks to her, then became aggressive when she asked him to leave her alone. She said he was on top of her, grabbing for her phone, when she began screaming. That’s when Sharp allegedly fired at him.
She reportedly fled the scene with Sharp and told her mother — Mayes’ sister — about the shooting the next day. Mayes’ mother was then contacted, returned to her apartment and found her son’s body.
Sharp’s next scheduled court appearance is July 21.
Desmount Dixon
Desmount Dixon, 33, of Detroit, died Jan. 20 after being shot and then crashing his car into an occupied apartment in Oak Park near I-696 and Greenfield Road.
Facing charges for his murder, attempted armed robbery and firearms offenses is Derrion Deandre Walker, 19.
According to police, on the night of the shooting Walker and two others were conducting a cannabis transaction with Dixon in the 25000 block of Lincoln Terrace. Walker allegedly shot Dixon during a robbery attempt. Dixon then drove away and crashed into the apartment building several hundred feet away. Police found him in the driver’s seat of his car, dead from a single gunshot wound.
More than three hours later, police were still on the scene investigating when Walker and two others returned. After the three were questioned by police, Walker was arrested.
Walker’s next scheduled court date is Aug. 17.
Jeff Donnelly, Brandon Andrews
Jeff Donnelly, 59, and Brandon Andrews, 19, both of Pontiac, died Jan. 17 in a fire at a home on St. Clair Street in Pontiac. Investigators determined the fire was arson and the deaths were ruled as homicides.
Andrews was autistic and staying at the home with his stepfather, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The stepfather jumped from a window to escape the flames and had reportedly instructed Andrews to follow him but he didn’t, the sheriff’s office said.
No arrests have been made.
The sheriff’s office said investigators have focused on a shadowy figure seen in a grainy surveillance video, suspecting that person may have started the fire.
Ten adults had been in the house, and several were severely injured when they jumped from the upper level windows. One man suffered a broken back and ankle, and another required knee surgery, the sheriff’s office said. The eight-bedroom house, in the 800 block of St. Clair St. near Kennett and Baldwin, had been occupied by men recently released from prison, the sheriff’s office said.
Eddie Matthews, Nathan Jacobs
Eddie Matthews, 29, and Nathan Jacobs, 29, died
Jan. 14 in Hazel Park, shot outside the Timeless Gallery rental hall. The two were sitting in a 2018 Mercedes Benz owned by Jacobs’ brother-in-law when they were hit by gunfire from semiautomatic weapons, police said.
The incident was reported at around 4:45 p.m. that day. Police said more than one shooter was involved, and it’s believed the victims knew the men who shot them. Matthews and Jacobs died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Police are seeking two suspects, Keko Martin, 30, and Ricco Hicks, 31, both of Detroit. Hicks is the brother of a third suspect, Michael Hicks, 38, who is already in custody.
Rory Teasley
Rory Teasley, 28, of Pontiac, was choked to death on Jan. 6, allegedly by his boyfriend of 10 years.
Docquen Jovo Watkins, 31, is charged with seconddegree homicide for Teasley’s slaying.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Watkins and Teasely had been playing the game “Overwatch” when the argument began. Shortly before midnight on Jan. 6, Watkins called 911 to report he and his boyfriend had gotten into a fight and that his boyfriend was “sleeping” on the couch, the sheriff’s office said.
Teasely was known as TikTok performer “Too2pump4TV.”
Deputies who responded to the residence, an apartment in the 10 block of Carter, found Teasley unconscious and not breathing, the sheriff’s office said. Teasley was taken to an area hospital but couldn’t be revived and was pronounced dead.
Watkins’ next scheduled court date is July 27.
OTHER CASES Name not released
A 75-year-old woman and her 50-year-old daughter were found shot to death June 27 at the daughter’s home on Stafford Lane in Rochester Hills. While being investigated as a possible murder-suicide and detectives stating it was an isolated incident with no threat to the public, no conclusion by investigators was released as of July 1.
Also as of July 1, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office hadn’t released the names. Officials did say that the older woman had recently moved into her daughter’s home to help her. The older woman’s husband and the father of the 50-year-old, told deputies that both women suffered from medical issues and that his daughter had a history of suicide attempts, the sheriff’s office said. He found the two dead in a bedroom when he went to the home to check on them, the sheriff’s office said.
Ryan Pitts
The body of Ryan Pitts, 31, of Pontiac, was recovered from a small lake in Pontiac on May 5. Autopsy results are pending. Family members had said he’d been missing since December 2021 and reported that to authorities in January.
Pitts’s body was located by two men searching for a good fishing spot in Harris Lake, located near Montcalm and Saginaw Streets.
Name not released
On May 3, a 33-year-old man was found dead in a room at the Baymont Inn and Suites in Royal Oak Township. Michigan State Police troopers discovered the body when conducting a welfare check as requested by the man’s brother who reportedly hadn’t seen him in two days. Troopers forced their way through the locked door and saw the man dead on the floor.
Michigan State Police said it was investigated as a “suspicious death,” and then forwarded the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No other information has been released.