DEARBORN — A 20-year-old man was shot dead at the Family Dollar store, located at 22631 Michigan Ave., on the evening of Monday, July 15. Brenna Machus, the store’s assistant manager was abducted in the incident and was found dead in a wooded area near the Southfield Freeway and Michigan Avenue, on Thursday July 18.

Employees who opened the store on Tuesday morning called 911, after finding the store in disarray. Police found the corpse of the 20-year-old man and started searching for Machus, whose cellphone and personal belongings were left in the store, indicating that she may have be in danger as well.

Orlando (L) and Machus.

The male victim has been identified as Joe Orlando, a Family Dollar employee, who started working at the Downtown West Dearborn dollar store recently.

The motive for the crime remains unknown.

The police department released a video that shows a man in a black hoodie who is believed to be the suspect, entering the store at 7:26 p.m. on July 15.

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying that person. Anyone who knows the alleged suspect or has seen anything suspicious on Southfield Freeway service drive (north bound) near Michigan Avenue between the evening of July 15 and the morning of July 17 should contact the Dearborn Police tip line immediately at 313.943.3012. 

Based on camera footage, two female customers were at the store, between 7:25 and 7:35 p.m., before the crime took place. Police have spoken to both of them.

The alleged suspect. If you can identify him, please call Dearborn Police Department at 313.943.2291.

Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad explained that the customers are not suspects, but they may be able to provide information that will give the police a better understanding of the timeline of the events.

Dee Pagac, who works at the ACO Hardware store next to Family Dollar, said she saw Machus while leaving work around 7 p.m. on July 15.

She said that Machus was with a male coworker, ringing up a customer, when she last saw her. She waved at her through the glass, which was fogged up from the rain, and Machus waved back without showing signs of anything unusual. Pagac does not personally know Machus, but she said that she greeted her as a fellow sales associate.

“Our investigation is ongoing and all of our resources are currently being utilized to  identify and apprehend the perpetrator of this vicious crime,” said Haddad on July 15.

Machus’s body was found on the morning of Thursday, July 18, after a 911 caller alerted the police about a body by a train track in a wooded area, near the Southfield Freeway and Michigan Avenue. Around 1:30 p.m. police confirmed that the body was that of Machus, who had been missing for three days.

After the body was found, Haddad said he was “enraged” that there was another homicide in Dearborn.

On Wednesday, July 17, before Machus was confirmed dead, her sister Megan Utley told the Arab American News that her family was scared, like any other family would be.

“It’s easier for some family members to deal with being scared by getting angry,” she said. “We just want Brenna home. She means so much to all of us and has so much life to live.”

Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering $11,100 for anyone who is able to provide information that would lead to an arrest.

Information can be shared anonymously, by calling 1-800-SPEAK UP, or texting CRIMES (274637).