News

Actions

Man to be officially charged in Walker motel murder

Posted at 7:02 PM, Jan 08, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-08 19:29:29-05

KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Matthew Robert Brunn, 29, will be officially charged with the murder of Casey Wybenga, Walker police announced Thursday.

Wybenga, 81, was found dead in a room at America’s Best Inn Motel in Walker Dec. 30, 2014.

Until Thursday Brunn was only considered a person of interest in Wybenga’s death, although sources close to the investigation confirmed that he confessedto the killing following his arrest Jan. 3 in Detroit.

Family members say Wybenga was afraid of Brunn given his criminal past, even though he`s known him for years and Wybenga helped him get back on his feet several times. The family says they never thought Brunn would hurt him .

Brunn was on parole at the time Wybenga went missing and police tell FOX 17 he cut his tether the day before Wybenga was found. Then, Brunn was spotted driving Wybenga’s car Friday morning in Detroit.