Three men have been charged in connection with Monday’s slaying of Commerce Township’s Sam Simko, who reportedly ran a marijuana grow business in Pontiac where the homicide occurred, officials said.
According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, Simko was lured to a purported business meeting which appears to have been a ruse to rob him and his business. Following the armed robbery and slaying, the three men fled to Cincinnati where they were arrested. Extradition is pending.
Charged with felony murder and armed robbery are William Creasy, Scott Brown and Deonte Prophett. Creasy and Brown were arrested Tuesday, and Prophett was arrested Wednesday, the prosecutor’s office said. Prophett is also charged with felony firearm and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Prophett is believed to be the one who fatally shot Simko, the prosecutor’s office said.
As stated in a news release from the prosecutor’s office: “Video footage at Simko’s business shows a person police identified as Creasy arrived at the business first and went into the building alone Monday evening. He was driving a white Buick Lacrosse. A black Ford Expedition parked across the street pulled into the parking lot while Creasy was inside. As Creasy was walking out of the building, it appears Brown and Prophett got out of the Expedition, with Prophett brandishing a pistol, and entered the building. After a struggle, Prophett fired two rounds and killed Simko.”
Simko’s business partner found him shot and called 911 at around 8:15 p.m. Monday, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said. Simko was pronounced dead at the scene
Investigators determined the Buick was registered to Creasy in Cincinnati and that Creasy rented the Expedition in Cincinnati the day of the murder.
“Sam Simko’s murder was a senseless tragedy,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald stated in the news release. “His family is entitled to justice and we are committed to ensuring the killers in this case are made to pay for their crimes.”
Simko’s homicide is Oakland County’s first in 2025.
Pontiac felon accused of shooting acquaintance, taking thousands of stolen dollars from him