Michigan police may be close to solving slaying of man whose head and hands were cut off

(Detroit Free Press) Authorities seem closer than ever to resolving two mysteries that have baffled them for a quarter-century: What is the identity of a man whose naked body was brutally mutilated, left handless and headless in a Blissfield Township cornfield? And who was the cold-blooded killer — or killers — who took his life?

Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Larry Rothman said multiple officers and agencies have been working on the case for years, poring over forensic evidence and gathering information from anyone who might know something that could solve it.

What makes the case especially daunting, as Rothman put it, is it's "an investigation in an investigation."



Until recently, the gruesome homicide never garnered much media attention outside Lenawee County. This week, U.S marshals made two arrests, which made national headlines, and that, Rothman said, could be the key to cracking both cases.

"It's still early in the investigation, so there's not a whole lot I can say," the detective said, adding that if he did, it could jeopardize the results. "But, we feel these two guys knew the victim, they were acquaintances at one point." ..............(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/01/27/michigan-gruesome-slaying-headless-handless-roberto/69843091007/