DETROIT (WXYZ) - Rudolph “Rudy” Raszewski was charged with the First-Degree Murder of his fiancée, Janice Grace.
According to the medical examiner, Grace was strangled and severely beaten. The 29-year-old woman was found dead in the home she shared with Raszewski on Detroit's east side.
The 24-year-old suspect called police on March 30 to report Grace was dead in their home in the 12000 block of Gallagher Street. Raszweski was arraigned Tuesday afternoon while in custody in Detroit’s 2nd Precinct.
According to the victim's brother, Michael Grace, he tried to help his sister get out the dangerous relationship. Janice Grace did not want to leave because Raszewski had custody of their sons.
“I don’t know what to make of it,” he said. “There was a past of violence that we knew about and we tried helping out with the situation, but she loved her kids so much that she couldn’t leave them.”
The couple had twin 4-year-old boys. Michael Grace told Action News the couple’s sons were home at the time of the homicide and saw the abuse.
Residents who lived near the pair said the family had only lived in the neighborhood for a month. The two recently moved back to the United States from Poland and had planned to get married soon.
“He seemed like a cool guy and everything,” said neighbor Derrick Turner. “You never heard them arguing.”
Husani Alexander lived next door to the suspect and victim. “He was a very calm person. He was a family man. Go to work, come home… never expected that,” said Alexander.
Janice Grace also had a 10-year-old son from a previous relationship who did not live with her.
Her brother sadly had a warning for loved ones and friends of victims of abuse.
“If anybody knows anything in their family about any kind of abuse… don’t wait,” said Michael Grace. “That’s all I can say is don’t ever wait because you never know when you’re going to get that phone call. If it’s bad enough you will get that phone call. That’s for sure.”
If Rascewski is convicted he will get life in prison with no chance of parole. He will appear in court again for his preliminary hearing in mid-April.
[...]
Bookmarks