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New Details Emerge in the Murder of John Dahlinger

Posted at 9:51 PM, Jan 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-01-14 22:29:19-05

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- An advertisement for a prostitute led police to the two people accused in connection with the murder of John Dahlinger.

Dahlinger was found dead Oct. 16 in his home in Grand Rapids.  An autopsy revealed he died of blunt force trauma, a gunshot wound and a heart attack.

Danyell Thomas is being charged with Dahlinger’s murder and Dijana Kilic with conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Wednesday, Thomas faces a judge for the continuation of his preliminary hearing.

When Dahlinger was found beaten and shot in his home, at first no one could imagine who would want to kill him.

But, as the story unfolded, so do the details of the double life he seemed to have led.

Affidavits to obtain a search warrant show Dahlinger had been searching backpage.com for a prostitute.

One advertisement, offered an invitation to “chill.”

Police found the number on the ad in Dahlinger’s phone under the name “Little Chill.”

That’s when Grand Rapids Police called the number, soliciting a prostitute.

The affidavit says two women and a man showed up to a local hotel room in a Chrysler 300.  Police say those three led them to Dijana Kilic.

Kilic and Thomas were arrested in November after police say they found a bag in an Allegan County field with Thomas’ cell phone and ammunition that matched the Dahlinger crime scene.

FOX 17 has learned Dijana Kilic is pregnant.  Friends say she believed the father of the child is Danyell Thomas, but no paternity test has been done.

It’s unclear if Kilic will testify at Thomas’ preliminary hearing Wednesday.

For updates from the courtroom follow @annmarielaflamme and @fox17on Twitter and “Like” the Fox 17 Facebook page.