Man Found Dead At Dollar Store, Woman Missing
DEARBORN (WWJ) - A 20-year-old man was found dead inside a Dearborn dollar store and a co-worker is feared abducted.
Dearborn Police Lt. Doug Topolski says employees opening the Family Dollar at the Value Land plaza on Michigan Avenue Tuesday morning found the store in disarray.
"They called the police, and officers found an employee of the store shot inside the store," Topolski said. "And right now we're looking for, obviously, a suspect and another employee."
The deceased victim has been identified as Joseph Orlando of Dearborn, and the missing woman as 20-year-old Brenna Machus of Romulus.
Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said they believe Machus, an assistant manager at the store, may be in danger.
"I can promise you that we're going to use the entire resources for the Dearborn police and our regional partners to being a successful end to this," Haddad said.
He said, with the investigation in its early stages, it's still unclear if a robbery was involved or if there was some other motive behind Orlando's killing.
Karen Callahan, who works at the Aco Hardware store next door, said she was both scared and saddened but what happened. She said her husband is concerned for her safety. "He gave me a text that said you're done at Aco, effective now," said Callahan, who has worked at the store
since the 1970s.
Callahan's longtime co-worker, Gail Proctor, was also shaken. "I'm retiring the first of August. Maybe the lord's telling me it's time," she said.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for a tip leading to Machus' whereabouts or to an arrest in this case. Those with information are urged to call the anonymous tip line at 1-800-SPEAK UP. You can also text your tip to CRIMES (274637).
