Elderly sisters beaten, raped in Dearborn home invasion; suspect in custody

FOX 2 (WJBK) - A home invasion suspect is in custody after a violent sexual assault of a pair of elderly women in a normally quiet Dearborn neighborhood Sunday.

The 52-year-old male suspect was tracked down at a nearby Melvindale motel and arrested after police collected evidence and spoke to witnesses. Both women remain hospitalized for their injuries.

The home invasion took place in the Outer Drive and Southfield area Sunday afternoon. Officers responded to the scene at 2 p.m. to find the injured victims.

The women are sisters with one in her 80s and the other in her 70s. The suspect was already wanted for a similar attack on a teen girl.

Neighbors say that one of the women ran naked from the home for help - which likely saved both of their lives.

"Upon arrival, officers discovered two elderly female residents who had been severely abused and sexually assaulted by an unknown adult male who illegally entered their home," said police in a release. "Dearborn Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel rendered medical aid to the victims immediately at the scene and prepared them for transport to an area hospital."

The suspect had just checked in at the Mel Plaza Motel, about five miles away, when police moved in to make the arrest.

The male suspect's identity has not been released yet, pending official charges from the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Although the investigation is ongoing, police believe the suspect was alone and that he chose the women at random.

"The crime committed in our community over the weekend is shocking and horrifying," said Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin. "I applaud and thank the community members who assisted our officers in swiftly bringing the perpetrator to justice and protected our residents from any further threat.

"As our investigation continues, our thoughts remain with the victims of this incident, their families, and their neighbors as they heal and recover from this trauma."

Dearborn police are putting extra patrols in the neighborhood for peace of mind, while Pace says this has completely shaken her.

"You've got to look at people differently, and what are you doing on my block and do you belong here, you know?" she said. "And that's no way to live."

Anyone with information about the incident may call Dearborn police at (313) 943-2240.