LYON TWP. (WWJ) - Two people have been charged with assault with intent to murder in the case of a man found beaten and bleeding in western Oakland County.
Oakland County Sheriff's deputies responded the morning of May 5 to a Lyon Township home where the residents reported they'd found the door forced open and blood everywhere. They followed a trail through the house to a bathroom where they discovered a man who was conscious and breathing, but had obvious head wounds.
The man was taken by EMS to a local hospital where he described to investigators how he'd been attacked with a baseball bat by multiple people. Detectives determined that the scene was not consistent with a home invasion, officials said, and that victim had entered the home looking for help.
Following further investigation, deputies identified and arrested two suspects: 24-year-old Jessica Kropiewnicki of Lyon Township and 28-year-old Christopher Simons of Fowlerville.
Kropiewnicki allegedly admitted to detectives that she and Simons had set the victim up, hit him on the head with a baseball bat and threw him in a river in a wooded area. During a search of the crime scene, investigators found a pair of glasses matching those worn by the victim in his Driver’s License photo.
Police did not say how the suspects and the victim knew each other, or what the motive for the attack may have been.
Kropiewnicki was arraigned in 52-1 District Court on May 10 . Bond was set at $1 million cash or surety, no 10%, on the condition she wear a GPS tether if she's released. Simons was arraigned the following day in 52-4 District Court, given a $200,000 cash or surety bond, also no 10% with a tether.
Both defendants are due back in court for a probable cause conference on May 22.