Arrest In Murder Of 5-year-old Mariha Smith
DETROIT (WWJ) - Police have made an arrest in the murder of 5-year-old Mariha Smith. A police spokesperson said a "person of interest" is in custody, based on the preliminary findings by the Detroit Police Homicide unit.
Family members tell WWJ Newsradio 950's Stephanie Davis the man in custody is the boyfriend of Mariha's aunt, although police have not confirmed this.
Several hundred people attended funeral services held Friday for Mariha, nearly two weeks after her burned body was found in an abandoned house in Detroit. (More on this, here).
She disappeared in early morning hours of July 24, sleeping on the floor of her west side home in the 3800 block of Burlingame and was later reported missing. Days later, her remains were found in an abandoned house on Waverly Street in Detroit.
According to the Wayne County Medical Examiners' Office, Smith had been asphyxiated and her skull crushed before the house was set fire.
Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for more as details become available.
