02-24-2012, 05:42 PM
The Detroit News
2/24/12
Grosse Pointe Park— Police on Thursday impounded as evidence a Cadillac that a handyman reportedly told police was promised as partial payment for murdering marketing executive Jane Bashara.
The car, which was parked in a St. Clair Shores lot for weeks before it was impounded about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, is registered to the victim's husband, Robert Bashara, who was called a "person of interest" in the case by Grosse Pointe Park Police Chief David Hiller.
Handyman Joe Gentz, who performed odd jobs at some of Robert Bashara's rental properties, told police his boss paid him less than $2,000 to kill Jane Bashara and dump her body in a Detroit alley to make it look like a carjacking, according to police sources.
Gentz also reportedly told police that Bashara promised him the used Cadillac as payment.
However, Bashara's attorney, David Griem, said Gentz had merely inquired about buying the car but didn't have enough money.
Although multiple police sources say Gentz confessed to killing Jane Bashara in her garage before driving her Mercedes sport-utility vehicle to a secluded alley on the east side of Detroit, police later released him, prompting Griem to question whether investigators believed Gentz's account.
Griem on Wednesday also questioned why the Cadillac hadn't been seized as evidence. When asked Thursday about the timing of the impound — after his comments appeared in The Detroit News and other media — Griem said, "I guess better late than never."
Investigators are awaiting evidence, including blood and hair reportedly taken from the Basharas’ garage. "Our lab is processing all evidence in the Bashara case," said Michigan State Police spokeswoman Tiffany Brown.
Meanwhile, Griem said Robert Bashara has hired two former FBI agents to investigate the murder.
He said the retired agents have identified their own person of interest, and that they would turn his name over to police when their investigation is finished.
2/24/12
Grosse Pointe Park— Police on Thursday impounded as evidence a Cadillac that a handyman reportedly told police was promised as partial payment for murdering marketing executive Jane Bashara.
The car, which was parked in a St. Clair Shores lot for weeks before it was impounded about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, is registered to the victim's husband, Robert Bashara, who was called a "person of interest" in the case by Grosse Pointe Park Police Chief David Hiller.
Handyman Joe Gentz, who performed odd jobs at some of Robert Bashara's rental properties, told police his boss paid him less than $2,000 to kill Jane Bashara and dump her body in a Detroit alley to make it look like a carjacking, according to police sources.
Gentz also reportedly told police that Bashara promised him the used Cadillac as payment.
However, Bashara's attorney, David Griem, said Gentz had merely inquired about buying the car but didn't have enough money.
Although multiple police sources say Gentz confessed to killing Jane Bashara in her garage before driving her Mercedes sport-utility vehicle to a secluded alley on the east side of Detroit, police later released him, prompting Griem to question whether investigators believed Gentz's account.
Griem on Wednesday also questioned why the Cadillac hadn't been seized as evidence. When asked Thursday about the timing of the impound — after his comments appeared in The Detroit News and other media — Griem said, "I guess better late than never."
Investigators are awaiting evidence, including blood and hair reportedly taken from the Basharas’ garage. "Our lab is processing all evidence in the Bashara case," said Michigan State Police spokeswoman Tiffany Brown.
Meanwhile, Griem said Robert Bashara has hired two former FBI agents to investigate the murder.
He said the retired agents have identified their own person of interest, and that they would turn his name over to police when their investigation is finished.