Doorbell video shows murder suspects posing as energy workers before allegedly killing jewelry store owner

Doorbell footage has been released showing two suspects posing as energy workers calling a home in an upscale Detroit neighborhood before allegedly murdering a 72-year-old jewelry store owner in the basement while his wife was taped up.

Chilling footage released by police shows the men in high-visibility vests and face masks standing outside a home in Rochester Hills around 10 p.m. on Thursday, hours before the brutal murder took place, police said.

“We’re DTE, we’re looking for gas leaks,” one of the men says before showing his clipboard to the camera as the other suspect appears to stand guard.

DTE Energy is an energy company based in Detroit, Michigan.

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According to police, the couple was unable to gain entry on Thursday and returned around noon on Friday and entered the home in the 3700 block of Newcastle.

The victim, who has not been identified at the time of this report, took the men to his basement to check for an alleged gas leak, the victim’s wife told police. When he didn’t return, she assumed he had been kidnapped.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the man’s wife bound with duct tape and then went into the basement where they found his body.

Police say they don’t know how the man died “due to the gruesome nature of the injuries.”

“We’re not sure of the cause because, frankly, there was so much blood,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, according to Fox 2 Detroit. “We’re not sure if it was some kind of gunshot or blunt force trauma. We’re not sure Maybe there was a gas leak and she never saw him again.

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It is unclear if any items were stolen from the home. The victim owned a jewelry store in Wayne County.

Police say they are looking for two men who were driving a white pickup truck with orange cones in the back.

One is described as thin and black, while the other was heavier and described as Latino.

Police say the couple should be considered dangerous.

“When people are small business owners, they often become targets for assets or cash that they sometimes bring home,” Bouchard said. “We’ve seen that with some of the high-end burglaries. So that’s a possibility that we’re also looking at.”

Police released a screenshot of the suspect calling the door on Thursday.

“Here is a picture of one of our murder suspects,” police wrote on Facebook. “Even if they try to hide their face and identity, if you know that person, you are likely to recognize them even with the mask on. A reward is possible.”

Bouchard urged residents to be aware of someone unexpectedly showing up at their home claiming to be from a utility company or other business wanting entry.

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DTE reiterated those warnings in a statement, recommending that customers request identification from workers who call in at home, noting that DTE employees always carry photo identification.

“Our condolences go out to the victims of this terrible and tragic event and we hope that the perpetrators are quickly caught and brought to justice,” the energy company’s statement read in part, according to Fox 2.

“It is important to note that before DTE arrives at a customer’s home for a service visit, we make every effort to contact them in advance, either through a call from our call center or via email or SMS. We encourage customers to ask to show identification before allowing access to their property.

“If customers wish to verify a worker’s identity or confirm that a vehicle is an authorized company vehicle, they should call DTE customer service at 800-477-4747 to confirm the validity of the visit.”