Detroit, MI- The two men accused of posing as workers for a local utility company in order to gain access to a jeweler’s home and then murdered him have been found guilty.
Jurors in Oakland County, Michigan, returned guilty verdicts against 38-year-old Carlos Jose Hernandez and 40-year-old Joshua Zuazo, both of Dearborn, Michigan, last week.
According to the Oakland County prosecutor’s office, the crime began unfolding on the night of Oct. 10, 2024.
Prosecutors said Hernandez and Zuazo came to the home jeweler Hussein “Sam” Murray, owner of Gold & Glitter Jewelry, shared with his wife, Linda Murray, dressed as workers for DTE Energy, a local electricity and gas company.
Outfitted in fluorescent vests and masks, they claimed they were checking for gas leaks, but it was actually a “targeted and very well-planned” attack, Assistant Prosecutor John Pietrofesa said at trial, as Hernandez had come into Hussein’s jewelry and pawn shop before and asked to meet the owner.
Hussein and Linda did not let Hernandez and Zuazo into their home that night, but the men returned the next day and were permitted entry.
According to the prosecutor’s office, one of the men showed the couple a piece of paper purportedly from DTE, which Murray signed before leading them to the basement.
Hernandez and Zuazo later came back upstairs without Hussein. They then bound Linda with duct tape and beat her while demanding to know the location of the safe, money, and jewelry.
According to evidence presented at trial, Hernandez had been texting with his wife about getting enough from the robbery to buy a house, but what the two men ultimately left with was Linda’s phone, her Apple Watch, some costume jewelry, and the keys to her SUV, Linda testified.