By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR – A probable cause conference held last week confirmed felony charges against two Taylor brothers accused of murdering and mutilating a 38-year-old River Rouge man.
Wesley D. Brown, 35, and his brother Adam L. Brown, 41, may face up to life in prison if convicted of last month’s killing Michael Lee Stratford.
While Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said testimony will be presented at a preliminary examination of the evidence against them scheduled for June 13, a probable cause hearing held June 1 before 23rd District Court Judge Geno Salomone confirmed that police and prosecutors had submitted sufficient evidence for the charges to continue.
Wesley Brown stands accused of open murder and disinterment of a dead body. Adam Brown was charged with disinterment and mutilation of a dead body and as an accessory after-the-fact.
Stratford went missing from his River Rouge home May 7, and was last seen at the older Brown’s house in the 22100 block of Brian Street in Taylor before investigators found his body May 14 in an Ypsilanti field.
The Browns remained in custody: Wesley Brown was denied bond and Adam Brown was held on a $1 million bond.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])