Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced today first degree murder charges in connection with the murder and decapitation of 26-year-old Daniel Sorensen. Charged are Jean Pierre Orlewicz, 17, of Plymouth and Alexander Letkemann, 18, of Westland.
Worthy described the only motive as a "thrill kill."
"I've seen every kind of crime, and still, the idea that there are people that would kill just for the thrill of it is bone chilling," she said.
Worthy said the two defendants invited Sorensen to jean pierre Orlewicz's grandfather's home in Canton on Wednesday with the purpose of killing him.
During a video arraignment, Canton Police Detective Ken Robinson testified that Orlewicz slit Sorensen's neck with a kitchen knife and repeatedly stabbed him in the back when Sorensen enterede the garage.
"Orlewicz then retrieved a hack saw and proceeded to cut Sorensen's head off with the saw," Robinson said.
Worthy said the killing scene inside the garage had been prepared with tarps covering the floor and cleaning supplies.
She said the suspects wrapped Sorensen's torso and took it to an area near Seven Mile and Ridge Road in Northville, where they allegedly used a blow torch to burn his hands and feet before setting the body on fire.
Sorensen's head was thrown into the Rouge River near Hines Park at the border of Detroit and Dearborn and located over the weekend. His Chevy S-10 pickup truck was found Friday night.
Tips and a statement from at least one of the suspects led to the arrest. She would not elaborate. She said the investigation was continuing.
The pair were arraigned via video at 34th District Court in Romulus, where Magistrate Donald Vandersloot ordered them held without bond. After the arraignment, Letkemann's father Peter briefly addressed the media.
"Anyone who knows my family knows that this would be totally out of character for Alex. I love him and we're behind him 100 percent," he said.
Orlewicz's family did not attend the arraignment at the advice of his attorney, Joseph Niskar.