Police File Charges After Florida Man Confesses to 1991 Dearborn Murder
Dearborn police said Thursday that the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is seeking extradition of 45-year-old Kelly Brady.
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A Florida man's confession has reopened a Dearborn homicide case from 1991, according to Dearborn police.
Police said Thursday in a statement that they are actively pursuing leads in the 21-year-old homicide, which left an ACCESS employee dead.
According to WDIV, Florida resident Kelly Brady turned himself in to St. Lucie County Sheriff's deputies for the murder of Gracielita Flores.
"Then he confessed to a murder," Sheriff Ken Mascara told WDIV. "There does appear to be some credence to it."
Dearborn police confirmed that on July 12, 1991, Flores was cleaning the ACCESS community center in the city's south end when she was attacked and killed. Detectives conducted an investigation in 1991 but no arrests were made and the case went cold.
Several later reviews of the case did not develop any new information.
This week, Dearborn police were contacted by the St. Lucie Florida Sheriff’s Department about Kelly.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s office has issued charges against Brady. The 45-year-old former Michigan resident is charged with First Degree Murder (premeditated); and two counts of Felony Murder.
A warrant was signed Thursday by 19th District Court Judge Mark. W. Somers. Brady is currently incarcerated in Florida and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office is currently seeking extradition.
ACCESS Executive Director Hassan Jaber, who worked with Flores before her death, said he hoped that the arrest would help bring the horrific murder to closure.
“Gracielita Flores’ death was a very tragic loss for us,” Jaber said. “She was a beautiful person. My hope is that (the arrest) can give her family some peace and the closure that they deserve after all these years.”
Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement that the case illustrated the need to invest in cold case reviews. "This case came to us on the proverbial silver platter," said Worthy. "We must always return to unsolved cases even if they happened decades before."
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19th District Court
16077 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI -
Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services
2651 Saulino Ct, Dearborn, MI
Youssef
8:02 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
WOW! I remember hearing about the murder when i was a kid. Growing up we would go to the Hammoud Center during the summer months. then it seemed like out of nowhere, ACCESS stopped providing recreational services at the center. I later found out, that it was because of the murder that occured.
I hope the family of Ms. Flores is able to to find closure.
Ortiz Family Member
11:54 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I just heard about this and was surprised to find out this has been going on for almost a month! This tragedy DEVASTATED multiple communities and I am SO glad this animal is finally caught! Gracie was a true angel of a woman and anyone that knew her could not even begin to comprehend who would harm her? Everybody knew her and loved her which made the whole event that much more traumatic and incomprehensible!
Gracie's poor family (her children especially) had to learn of the horrific things this monster did to their sweet, God loving mother. There are many sad hearts in the metro area with mixed emotions. On one hand, it's good to see that this monster that hurt Gracie is finally being brought to justice. On the other hand, it's a sad reminder of the day several communities lost one of their angels; the tarnished day that a family lost their one of a kind, loving, irreplaceable mother that compares to none.
I pray that justice prevails to the fullest extent the law allows and I hope that everyone that remembers Gracie will post something to show her family that people will never forget how special she was.
To Gracie's Family: You are in our family's prayers. I hope your Mom can rest in peace knowing that this disgusting pig is finally where he belongs....at least until he meets his maker and receives his “final” judgment.