ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – Two Michigan men will spend the rest of their lives in prison after being sentenced on Tuesday for the brutal murder of a 72-year-old jewelry store owner they attempted to rob by posing as gas company workers. The sentencing comes months after a jury convicted Carlos Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo of first-degree felony murder in the slaying of Hussein Murray at his upscale Rochester Hills residence near Detroit.
During Tuesday’s proceedings in Oakland County Circuit Court, Judge Yasmine Poles condemned the defendants’ calculated violence, describing their actions as “depraved” and motivated by “arrogance and greed.” She told the court that Murray’s murder was not only cowardly but also “absolutely pathetic.”
Prosecutors revealed during trial that Hernandez and Zuazo meticulously planned the crime, including text exchanges discussing their hopes the heist would provide enough money for a new home. Messages retrieved from Hernandez’s phone included conversations with his wife about buying a house, ending their need to rent, and investing in a backyard for their family.
Over the course of two days, Hernandez and Zuazo visited the Murrays’ home disguised as employees of Detroit-based DTE Energy, claiming to be checking for gas leaks. On the first attempt, Hussein Murray and his wife, Linda, refused them entry after she mentioned a gun in the house. Not deterred, the pair returned the following evening, and this time, Murray allowed them to enter the basement.
Once inside, Linda Murray was restrained with duct tape while Hernandez and Zuazo attacked Hussein Murray. Autopsy results presented at trial revealed severe trauma: Murray suffered fractures to his jaw and throat along with numerous bruises and cuts. The medical examiner determined his death was caused by neck compression.
Linda Murray, frightened but resilient, managed to contact authorities despite her bound wrists. When police arrived, she reported not knowing her husband’s whereabouts, leading officers to discover Hussein Murray’s body in the basement.
Testimony indicated that after the beating, the two men stole jewelry and cash from the home, then fled in a stolen pickup truck marked with DTE decals. Blood-stained weights were recovered near Murray’s body, adding to the evidence against the suspects. According to prosecutors, the nature of Murray’s wounds and the scene suggested a level of violence far beyond what could have been inflicted with bare fists alone.
Text messages from the night before the murder were also scrutinized in court, with Hernandez’s wife counseling him to leave if anything went wrong and to wear a mask for protection. Despite participating in the communications leading up to the crime, Hernandez’s wife has not been charged.
Hernandez and Zuazo both declined to make statements during their sentencing. Judge Poles emphasized that the pair’s overconfidence and flawed planning ultimately led to their quick convictions, pointing out the wealth of digital and physical evidence left behind.
Family members of Hussein Murray spoke emotionally about their loss, describing the devastating impact the murder has had on their family. The victim’s eldest son recounted how his parents worked hard for everything they had and how that legacy was destroyed by the actions of the two men.
The life sentences issued by Judge Poles mean Hernandez and Zuazo will not be eligible for parole, ensuring they will spend the remainder of their lives in prison for their crimes.
