A 32-year-old Berkley woman was arrested Friday in the 2002 murder of her husband, who was found dead along the side of the road in Springfield Township.
Rebecca Maureen Smith, 32, was arraigned after the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office issued a two-count felony warrant May 18, charging her with open murder, which includes first and second degree murder.
The body of Michael Lee Smith was discovered by a man collecting returnable cans along Oakhill Road between East Holly Road and Dixie Highway Dec. 19, 2002.
When found, Michael Smith was clad only in a Detroit Tigers t-shirt and wedding band, and had a distinctive Grim Reaper tattoo on his arm.
An autopsy determined Michael Smith died as the result of two gunshot wounds, but a police investigation established Smith was not killed in the same location he was found.
Initially, family members led investigators to believe Michael Smith was last seen outside the Greyhound Bus Station in Royal Oak, where he was purportedly to board a bus to Florida.
A search of Smith’s home resulted in discovery of bloodstains, which were positively linked to Michael Smith through DNA testing.
Rebecca Smith was arraigned before Magistrate Michael Zychowski in the 45 A District Court in Berkley. Zychowski denied bond and set the preliminary exam for Tues., May 29 at 8:30 a.m.
‘We hope,? said Sheriff Michael Bouchard, ‘that after over four years of wondering by the family of Michael Smith, this will lead to justice on his behalf.?