Warren Handyman Charged In Violent Assault Of Grosse Pointe Farms Designer
GROSSE POINTE FARMS (WWJ/AP) -- A handyman was arraigned Friday afternoon on charges for the stabbing of an interior designer.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged 49-year-old David Corzilius with a laundry list of charges, including assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, first-degree home invasion and unlawful imprisonment.
Corzilius of Warren has admitted a role in the stabbing in Grosse Pointe Farms but claims he was upset because the victim, Daniel Clancy, had touched his buttocks the previous day.
Authorities say that on March 6, Corzilius demanded money from Clancy, 69, hit him in the face and bound his hands with duct tape at his 8,400 square foot home on Voltaire Place, near Kercheval and Moross. Prosecutors claim that Corzilius then slashed Clancy's neck with a knife, ransacked his home and stole valuable paintings and other items.
Clancy remains in the hospital in critical condition with multiple knife wounds. Clancy had hired Corzilius to clean gutters and shovel snow.
Lt. Richard Rosati says Corzilius returned to Clancy's house to "settle the score."
Defense attorney Tim Doty says Corzilius has a history of drug problems and mental health issues.
"It was pretty clear to those in law enforcement that this brutally violent assault was not random, but the work of someone who knew Mr. Clancy," Worthy said. "The alleged actions of the defendant bear this out."
A man who identified himself as Clancy's estate manager said the suspect worked on Clancy's home last fall.
"He's got a criminal record," the manager, who only wanted to be identified as Brett, told WWJ's Vickie Thomas. "He was simply a gutter cleaner, one time. He came to the house on two other occasions to try to get the gutter job again, and I was told never to let him in the house.
"He was stalked. Daniel Clancy on Sunday was stalked by this guy," said Brett. "Somebody tried to cut his head off and kill him. Luckily he's still holding on."
According to police, Clancy had returned home from shopping at Costco and was unloading his vehicle when he was attacked. A passerby later saw him lying in a pool of blood on the sidewalk and called 911.
Clancy's work has been featured on HGTV. He's also been named "Designer of the Year" by Detroit Monthly Magazine. Although he's been based in Michigan, he's worked on homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, New York and Los Angeles.
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