Target of Grosse Pointe Park home invasion may have been juror in murder trial

GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. (WJBK) - Police in Grosse Pointe Park are still tight-lipped about what would have caused a man to break into a home and strangle a woman over the weekend. One possible motive is that the woman's husband served on a jury that handed down a guilty verdict in a murder trial.

Police started investigating the alleged assault Saturday when an intruder broke in and tried to strangle a woman inside her home just before 7 p.m. According to police, the woman's small dog scared the man off.

The close-knit community on Lakepointe in Grosse Pointe Park was stunned when they found out what happened.

"It's a tragedy beyond belief but it has nothing to do with the community I live in - strong police force -neighbors take care of one another," neighbor Julia Keim said.

"The Michigan State Police were here that night on scene so I'm assuming it's all in good hands and everybody will hopefully resolve it quickly," Heather Ulku said.

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Evidence technicians from Michigan State Police were on scene and assisted Grosse Pointe Park police that night. Police are still not saying much about the attack and neighbors are wondering why this happened.

"This was at 7 o'clock at night - that's the other thing - it's a little - there's a lot going on - it was a busy busy day around here," Ulku said.

A possible motive is the victim's husband who recently served on a jury that handed down a guilty verdict in a murder trial. It could have been revenge for the verdict but that hasn't been confirmed.

Juror's information and identification are supposed to be confidential.

"I do hope someone's pursuing what might have happened in the courtroom - what might have happened to identify this person but I assume somebody will do that," Keim said.

Grosse pointe park police say it is believed to be an isolated incident.

Police have not offered more details about the suspect or the possible motive. Anyone with information is asked to call police.