On February 10, 2014, firefighters responding to a house fire on Bentler Street in Detroit discovered a scene of extreme violence. In the basement they found the bodies of 51-year-old Lawrence Bowman and 24-year-old Michael Hoots. On the first floor they found 26-year-old Nicholas Bowman alive but gravely injured; he was taken to a hospital and later died of his wounds.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Lawrence Bowman had been stabbed multiple times and suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Nicholas Bowman and Michael Hoots had been stabbed to death. Investigators concluded the fire was deliberately set to destroy evidence, and reports describe wounds consistent with torture prior to death.

Police linked a missing 2013 Chrysler 200 registered to Michael Hoots to Redford Township and within days arrested four suspects: Larry Johnson, 20, Rashawn Johnson, 19, Tenisha Jackson, 19, and Keeshon Lake, 19. Items belonging to the victims, including identification and bloody clothing, were recovered during the arrests. The indictment alleges the motive was a planned robbery of items including an Xbox, puppies, a car, and a bridge card to celebrate a birthday.