A pair of teenagers from Macomb County plotted to kill one of the teen’s mother in retaliation for having her cellphone taken away as punishment for not following house rules, according to police.
The two — a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old male, both from Eastpointe — were arrested and are being held in custody on high bonds. The arrests follow a lengthy investigation that included information from social media, police say.
Eastpointe Police Chief Corey Haines said investigators in the department are shocked by the allegations.
“I don’t know that we’ve seen anything on this level from this age group,” he told Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK-TV).
According to a news release, the incident started back at 4 a.m. on July 14 when officers received a report of a home invasion and attempted homicide complaint from the 24000 block of Roxana Avenue, in the Stephens-Kelly Road neighborhood.
Officers learned the victim had been sleeping in her bedroom when she was awakened by a stranger who picked up a body pillow and held it against her face. The man then jumped on top of the woman and began choking her with his hands.
The woman yelled for help, which brought the girl’s grandmother into the room. As the grandmother began screaming at the stranger, he released his hold and fled the house on foot, adding that “he was sorry,” police said.
While running away, the suspect left his shoes behind. Investigators believe he took them off when he broke into the house in an effort to silence his movements.
Police also found one of the victim’s kitchen knives in the street where the suspect fled. The victim said he must have picked up the knife from the kitchen counter and dropped it as he ran away. She did not see him armed with a knife when he was strangling her, according to the release.
Police said the victim suspected her daughter was involved in the crime. She told officers her daughter is a “problem child” with a juvenile record. She added her daughter does not like to follow house rules and was upset her phone was taken away as punishment.
The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries she sustained during the attack, police said.
An extensive investigation was conducted that included numerous search warrants were executed, surveillance footage from the area was reviewed, and interviews.
As a result of the investigation, the suspects were identified. Police said they determined the victim’s daughter met the suspect a social media app and they developed a relationship. They plotted to kill the victim so they could have “more freedom of being together.”
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office charged both juveniles as adults, but authorities aren’t releasing their names because of their ages.
The male was charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, which is punishable by life without parole or a minimum sentence of 25-40 years and maximum sentence of at least 60 years. He also was charged with assault with intent to murder.
Prosecutors charged the female with solicitation of murder which is felony punishable by life or any term of years, and conspiracy to commit homicide.
The male received a $2.5 million bond, while the female suspect is being held on a $1 million bond, according to police.