Authorities Arrest Person Of Interest In West Michigan Murder
UPDATED 4:20 PM -- Detroit police have arrested a person of interest in the death of 81-year-old Cornelius Wybenga.
29-year-old Matthew Brunn was at a known drug house on Gratiot and McClellan where he was assaulted by several subjects. After he fled the home - he made it to a Coney Island restaurant near Gratiot and Cadillac where patrons called 911.
Upon their arrival - Brunn told authorities he was an absconder. An officer recognized him for being wanted in Kent County and was taken into custody at the restaurant.
MACOMB (WWJ) - A manhunt is underway in Macomb County for a person of interest in a murder case out of west Michigan.
Authorities say 29-year-old Matthew Brunn, a parole absconder, is wanted for questioning in connection with the death of 81-year-old Casey Wybenga, whose body was found Tuesday inside a Grand Rapids-area motel.
Sterling Heights Police Lieutenant David Smith said their department is on alert.
"We got a call from the jurisdiction where this homicide took place, asking just to check the area because one of the persons of interest, their parents live in our city," Smith said.
Officers searched the area but have so far not been able to locate Brunn, who was reportedly spotted in the metro Detroit area Friday morning.
"All of our officers are aware. The subject right now is a person of interest, I'm not sure that he's their primary suspect or anything like that," Smith said. "But our officers are aware of the individual and what to be looking out for, so they're going to be out on the streets doing that."
Investigators believe Brunn, whose criminal record includes armed robbery, is driving Wybenga's light metallic green Ford Freestyle with Michigan license plate "CEV 8669." He reportedly cut off his tether the day before Wybenga's body was found.
Officials said Wybenga's death is being treated as a homicide but have not yet revealed his cause of death.
Anyone who thinks they've seen Brunn or knows of his whereabouts is urged to contact police at 586-446-2800 or 616-453-5441.
