Police: Handyman confessed in stabbing attack on interior designer

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. (WJBK) - There are new developments in that violent attack on the well-known interior designer in Grosse Pointe Farms with the suspect formally charged for the assault.

Friday was our first look at David Corzilius who was charged with six felony counts at a Grosse Pointe Farm courthouse.  If convicted because of his prior criminal record, he could spend up to life in prison for the attack on interior decorator Daniel Clancy at his home on Voltaire Sunday.

Police have interviewed him and said he has already confessed to the crime. Corzilius appeared in the street clothes, minus shoes.

Detectives say that when they first arrived at the scene they found the victim bleeding profusely. They asked who did this to you, in which the victim said 'David' then went unconscious.

The crimes happened back at around 4 p.m. on March 6th. It is alleged that he came to the victim's home demanded money, hit him in the face, bound his hands with duct tape and slashed him across the neck with a knife, stealing valuable paintings among other things from the home.

Police say it wasn't random, that Clancy had hired him to be a handyman who came out to the house just the day before.

The Grosse Pointe Farms detectives were able to track down the suspect at a hospital where he was being treated for a heroin overdose then arrested. It is the same hospital where the victim is being treated and at last check, was in critical condition.

After talking with police, Corzilius offered the confession with police, saying that he committed the crime to settle the score after some unwanted sexual advances.

"In his confession he's just saying that he attacked Clancy when he had the knife," said Det. Richard Rosati. "And pulled it on him. That enraged him and Clancy defended himself with the knife. Clancy did not at any time - I wasn't there - from his testimony - try to attack him."

"There is a lot more to this story than what's been put out there," said defense attorney Tim Tody. "I have come to learn some things that there might be a valid defense for my client. We're looking forward to our day in court and we're going to explore those opportunities."

Tody also said that maybe it's self-defense that they're going to go with. The attorney said he has known his client his entire life and he has never known him to be violent, but said he is bipolar he said his client is addicted to heroin.