Southfield couple brutally beaten in own home, attacker's motives a mystery

Police in Southfield say that a 67-year-old man and his 74-year-old wife were both beaten inside their own home when a man broke in last week.

The attack happened on Saturday, July 29, at a home on Poinciana north of 8 Mile in Southfield.

According to police, the 67-year-old man was napping on the couch around 1:15 p.m. when a suspect forced open the screen door of the home. He assaulted the man and punched him in the head multiple times.

His wife tried to call the police but the suspect began assaulting the 74-year-old woman. Then he took the phone from her hands and beat the man in the face and head before running out of the back of the home.

"There should be zero tolerance, especially when it is women, elderly people or kids," said neighbor Eric Vance. "People over here in Southfield they usually watch out for one another and it's not that type of community."

Police say he's not known to anyone in the neighborhood and his motives are a mystery. They say nothing was stolen from the couple's home.

The man suffered severe bruising and lacerations to his face. The woman has an injury to her knee.

Police released a sketch of the man they say is black with medium-light complexion. He's between 15 and 20 years old, a slender build, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches and wearing a red shirt.

"We do not know what the motive is," said Dep. Chief Nick Louissa. "It is a very unusual incident to occur on a Saturday at about 1:15 in the afternoon. For someone to actually break into a home and assault an elderly male and to also assault his wife is very unusual. At this time we do not know what the motive is."

Police are investigating but need help from the public.

"We are hoping someone recognizes this individual and gives us a call," Louissa said.

A member of the family was contacted but declined comment.

Anyone who may know something about what happened is asked to call Southfield Police at (248) 796-5500.