Man Acquitted In Parents' Murders Offers Reward To Find Their Killer
NEW BALTIMORE (WWJ/AP) - A man once accused of murdering his parents is now hoping a $10,000 cash reward will bring forward information about the real killer.
Ronald Jabalee Jr. is putting up the money to enhance the $2,500 being offered by Crime Stoppers to close the case.
His parents, 58-year-olds Ron and Christine Jabalee, were found beaten to death in the garage of their New Baltimore home six years ago this month. Investigators say the killer had scrawled letters on the floor in the victim's blood.
A grand jury returned murder charges against 44-year-old Ronald Jabalee Jr., the couple's oldest son, in 2009 -- but a Macomb County jury found him not guilty in 2010 and he was acquitted of all charges.
Ronald Jabalee Jr.'s lawyer, Stephen Rabaut, said his client didn't kill his parents, arguing he had a close relationship with them and was devastated by their deaths. The couple's youngest son, Ryan Jabalee, has also said the entire family believes his brother is innocent.
Prosecutors said the couple was killed for their money.
Ryan Jabalee says he misses his parents every day.
"I have to keep moving forward. I thank my mom every day that she made me go to church all the time, and trusting in the lord, because that really helps," he told WWJ's Marie Osborne. "But it's hard, you know, I got married and had two kids with another kid on the way, which they never got to see any of those kids or see me getting married."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
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