Bodies of girl, woman found in burned Detroit home

DETROIT (AP) - The bodies of a girl and a woman found in an abandoned, burned Detroit home could be connected to the notification issued to find a missing 4-year-old girl, authorities said Saturday.

Police Chief James Craig told reporters that investigators were working to determine whether the bodies discovered in the east side home appear to be those of Savannah Walker and her mother. The Amber Alert about Savannah was issued earlier in the morning and she was reported missing on Tuesday to authorities in Livingston County.

Craig said the connection between the cases is possible but not confirmed at this point. He also couldn’t account for the delay between the initial report to Livingston County sheriff’s officials and the Amber Alert but expressed concern that law enforcement action wasn’t taken earlier.

Livingston Sheriff Bob Bezotte told WDIV-TV a deputy responded to a 911 call and advised the family member of the missing mother and daughter to file an Amber Alert with the Michigan State Police, the only agency authorized to issue one. The deputy also located the last activity on the missing woman’s cellphone to Detroit’s east side, and told the relative to contact Detroit police, Bezotte said.

Craig said city and state officials became involved when the relatives went to the state police post in Brighton.

Authorities say the person last seen with Savannah, a 33-year-old Detroit man, has been in a relationship with the mother. He’s described as a person of interest and considered armed and dangerous, and Craig said he is on parole after serving time for assault with intent to commit murder.

There is a history of domestic violence between the man and missing woman, he added.

Craig said it wasn’t clear if the woman and girl were killed in the home or taken there afterward, but the fire is considered suspicious.

“It’s not uncommon where a suspect will commit a crime like murder and try to cover their tracks by setting a fire,” he said. “It appears to be intentionally set (in an) abandoned house.”