The Killer Had A Helper

"JACKSON, MI - A 34-year-old woman is expected to be arraigned Wednesday or Thursday on a murder charge for allegedly helping a man kill his wife and then standing by as the man killed himself.

"She is accused of working with Ray William Zuke Jr., 47, to kill Dianna Zuke, 45, sometime during the holiday weekend inside the Jackson house she shared with both of them. She was then present as a distraught Ray Zuke committed suicide, apparently by hanging, said Deputy Chief John Holda.

"Jackson police arrested the woman Tuesday, according to a city police department statement.

"Her name has not been released.

"`That’s a hell of a blow,` the couple’s friend, Frances Southwell, said of the deaths. The two had health, substance abuse and other problems.

"`But they were my friends,` she said Tuesday.

"`This has devastated me.`

"A relative discovered the bodies about 4:45 p.m. Monday inside the Zukes’ home in the 300 block of Union Street, Holda said. Ray Zuke was downstairs. His wife was in an upstairs bedroom. A neighbor said the relative came to her home, upset and scared, and asking to call 911.

"Neighbors said they did not realize what occurred until police filled Union Street and remained there for hours.

"`It’s kind of an eerie feeling to have your door wide open and have two people killed right across the street and not even know it,` said Kelly Yount, who had been staying with her daughter across the street from the Zukes’ house.

"Autopsies were performed Tuesday, Holda said. The results of Dianna Zuke’s autopsy was “inconclusive,” he said. He would not release her probable cause of death because he did not want to jeopardize the case. She did not die by gunfire, he said.

"What brought about the alleged killing and suicide is not clear."

From mlive.com...