Overview
- Southfield police say a months-long probe identified 48-year-old Dwight Respess of Farmington Hills as the person who left animal remains at the entrance of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
- Respess was arraigned on July 22, released after posting a $600 cash bond, and is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 12.
- Police say Respess told investigators he left the remains as part of a personal religious practice he believed would protect him from death.
- Officers reported the remains were mainly red snapper fish and pigeon heads left near the cemetery gates on 10 Mile near Beech Road.
- Investigators say they used a mix of traditional detective work and technology to identify the suspect and news reports differ on whether the Oakland County or Southfield City prosecutor authorized the charge.