A 20-year-old Michigan man has been charged with a series of grave crimes, including the murder of a 62-year-old woman.
Stephen Freeman strangled Gabrielle Seitz on October 27, 2022, with a shoelace in her Roseville, Michigan home, after which he took her body on a drive in her truck.
After he hit a semi-truck he ran off; 30 minutes later police found Seitz’s body under a blanket in the back. Freeman was arrested on November 4 and was allowed bail because of lesser charges but was homeless and had no money. He stayed in custody until more serious charges were filed in mid-November, 2022 and bail was revoked. The investigation continued and on November 9, 2023, new charges led to Freeman’s case being transferred to the Macomb County Circuit Court.
Charges against Freeman include concealing the death of an individual, receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, and felony murder. However, as the investigation progressed, the charges were escalated to first-degree murder, criminal sexual conduct, and home invasion.
Prosecutors state that Freeman, who was 19 at the time, broke into Seitz’s home through a window while she was out. Upon her return, a confrontation ensued, leading to her strangulation with a shoelace, which was found around her neck when her body was discovered. The evidence led investigators to determine that the murder was premeditated.
Seitz, remembered by her son as a sweet and humorous person who enjoyed dancing and singing, was well-liked in her community.
If convicted of all the charges against him, Freeman faces a potential life sentence in prison.