Suspected tattoo parlor shooter was suspect in 2009 Oakland County murder

Lina Portman2 days ago

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HOWELL — The Daily has confirmed that Jeremy Michael Heath, 48, who faces open murder charges in a shooting at Metro Studios Ink in downtown Howell, was also a suspect in a high-profile 2009 Oakland County killing.

The murder charge was announced by the Howell Police Department on Tuesday, July 2, joining charges of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. Heath was charged with those charges Monday.

Heath, of Clarkson, is accused of fatally shooting Sean Thompson, 46, of Howell, at Metro Studios Ink on Friday, June 28.

In a statement released Saturday, HPD said Thompson was on scene and causing a disturbance before the shooting. They added that there was a known history of conflict between business personnel and Thompson.

Although some media outlets reported that Thompson had a knife, HPD said there was no immediate indication he was armed, although threats of violence were made, leading Heath to fire a shot — which struck and killed Thompson.

The additional charge of open murder was filed Tuesday “based on additional information discovered during the investigation,” HPD wrote.

Open murder is a combination of first and second degree murder, allowing the jury to determine the degree based on the evidence presented at trial.

Heath's bail was originally set at $200,000, but it was revoked Tuesday.

Stabbing in Oakland County

This is not the first time Heath has been suspected of murder, a fact The Daily confirmed through social media posts from Michigan State Police and conversations with Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy and Deputy Police Chief Brent Wasson of Gillette, Wyoming.

In August 2009, Dennis McCarthy, who had previously been acquitted of sexually assaulting several children, was stabbed to death in his Holly Township home. McCarthy had just been released from prison on a separate sexual assault charge before the break-in and stabbing that ended his life, according to a report in the Tri-County Times.

Police believe the suspect who fled the scene was Heath — who, according to a 2011 Michigan State Police report, had not been seen since the homicide and “had severed all contact with his family and children.”

According to the Times, the MSP reported in 2012 that Heath was linked to someone who was allegedly sexually assaulted by McCarthy.

The MSP did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily.

An arrest warrant was issued for Heath, but it was not executed until 2019, when Heath was arrested by police in Gillette, Wyoming.

There are no public court records for the case in Oakland County, and no records for Heath in the Michigan Department of Corrections' Offender Tracking Information System. The Daily is working to determine whether Heath was ultimately charged in the case.

Campbell County, Wyoming, Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds confirmed that while in a holding cell awaiting extradition to Michigan, Heath attacked another inmate, punching him and using his belly chain to strangle him.

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According to The Gillette News Record, Heath said the inmate bragged about raping a woman. Heath was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, but Reynolds said the charges were dropped because the inmate was not injured and Heath was charged in Michigan.

Heath's next appearance in Livingston County Court will be before Judge Murphy on Tuesday, July 9.

— Contact journalist Tess Ware at [email protected].

Stabbing in Oakland County

Lina Portman

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