Fake DTE workers heading to trial after wife of murdered husband, others testify

PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - The men who posed as fake DTE workers in order to gain access to a Rochester Hills home before allegedly murdering the owner were bound over for trial.

The preliminary hearing included several witnesses and evidence against Carlos Hernandez, 37, and Joshua Zuazo, 39, both of Dearborn.

Both are charged with murder and two counts of unlawful imprisonment after they allegedly killed Hussein Murray in his basement, then tied up his wife in their home on Newcastle Drive in October.

Hernandez was later arrested in Louisiana a day after the murder took place. Zuazo was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Plymouth the week after the death.

Among those that testified was Hussein's wife, Linda Murray, who described the moments before and after both Hernandez and Zuazo were last seen with her husband.

Police officers, forensic technicians, and relatives also testified. 

Wife testifies about assault, being bound by suspects

Linda Murray is the wife of Hussein Murray and told the court on Tuesday the two had been married for 54 years. 

She testified the first time she interacted with Hernandez and Zuazo was the night of Oct. 10, when two men knocked on the door talking about a gas leak.

They claimed to be employed by DTE and had already spoken to their neighbors. She told the court she asked her husband if he had his firearm on him.

She knew him to sometimes carry a handgun for personal protection. She also told the court that the individual she identified as Hernandez told her husband he would come back the next day.

Both she and her husband were home when the two men returned. At one point, she testified both men followed her husband into the basement - but did not hear anything after that.

When they emerged from downstairs, the individual she identified as Zuazo had blood on his person. Hernandez then began asking her questions about where she kept her cash and jewelry.

After asking Hernandez where her husband was, he struck her in the face before he duct taped her wrists and ankles together. 

They left soon after, first looking through the couple's garage.

Medical examiner rules death a homicide

Shauna Bryan of the Oakland County Medical Examiner told the court that many Hussein Murray's injuries were concentrated at his head.

She noted he had injuries associated with blunt force trauma, including lacerations, bruises, and a broken jaw. There was also hemorrhaging in his skull.

There were also fractures in the bones in his throat, which Bryan testified were the kind of injuries caused by "force and pressure" leading to neck compression and eventually asphyxiation. 

She estimated he died after 10 minutes of being strangled. 

There was also evidence that Hussein Murray had been struck by the butt of a handgun and stomped on. 

Defendant's mother-in-law

The fifth witness to testify was Danielle Diaz, the mother-in-law of Hernandez who is married to her daughter.

She told the court she recognized Hernandez from the Ring camera, and later identified Zuazo as the second individual from the security footage.

'It was not supposed to go down like that'

Detective Wendell Smith was among two members of the sheriff's office that traveled to Louisiana to pick up evidence after Hernandez was arrested. 

While there, Smith had the opportunity to interview Hernandez, who gave several details to law enforcement. One question he asked Hernandez why only one victim was killed. 

Smith paraphrased Hernandez's response as "What do you mean why did we only kill one? It was not supposed to go down like that."

Hernandez also said Zuazo was the one to tie up Linda Murray and added he did not recall anyone striking her. 

Among the evidence found in his vehicle was various clothing, hat, shoes, masks, jewelry, a hammer, and DTE gear.