Brenna Machus
A suspect was arraigned Wednesday in last week's robbery-slayings of two 20-year-old Family Dollar store employees, The Detroit News reports.
Lavere Bryant, a former Family Dollar employee, was arraigned before 19th District Judge Sam Salamey on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of felony murder and one count each of armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm and felony use of a firearm, according to the Dearborn Press & Guide.
Wayne County Circuit Court records show Bryant was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct and home invasion in 1999. The home invasion charge was dropped, but he served one year in prison and five years probation on the sexual conduct charge. Bryant was also convicted in 2001 of assault with intent to do great bodily harm.
Joe Orlando and Brenna Machus were murdered after a suspect entered the store on the night of Monday, July 15.
Orlando was found shot to death in the store. Two days later, police discovered Machus's body near the Southfield Freeway and Michigan Avenue.
Machus died from a shot to the head, the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office announced last Friday.
A security camera videotape showed a man wearing a dark hoodie entering the store just before 7:30 p.m. the night of the crime.
The discount store on Newman reopened Wednesday morning for the first time since then.
