Medical Examiner Rules Death a Homicide in Grosse Pointe Park

Following an autopsy Friday of a 35-year-old Grosse Pointe Park woman, the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled her death a homicide. Officials are still working to have family identify her to confirm her identity.

The death of a 35-year-old Grosse Pointe Park woman found dead inside a duplex on Wayburn Street Thursday has been ruled a homicide by the Wayne County Medical Examiner's office, county spokeswoman Sarah Bazzi said.  The autopsy was performed Friday morning. Grosse Pointe Park detectives were present for the autopsy, Park Capt. David Loch said. Additionally, the manner of death was ligature strangulation, Bazzi said. This form of strangulation means her airway was cut off at her neck without being suspended.  Officials have not released the woman's identity as they are still working to have family confirm it, Bazzi said Friday afternoon via email.  She has been identified by media as Sabrina Gianino. She worked as a receptionist at Platz …

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Man, 20, in Custody for Firebombing in Grosse Pointe Park

Grosse Pointe Park police are preparing a case to send to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office on a 20-year-old resident they arrested early Friday for firebombing a home on Whittier.

Grosse Pointe Park police have arrested a 20-year-old man in the early morning firebombing of a lakefront home on Whittier Road, Public Safety Director David Hiller told Patch.  The crime appears to be random and was not targeted at the homeowners, Gary and Janet Van Elslander, Hiller told Patch. Gary Van Elslander is the president of Art Van Furniture. The arrested man is being held as detectives prepare a case to send to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Hiller said. The case will be reviewed by the prosecutor's office and charges will be determined.  Police were called to the home at 740 Whittier Road about 3:30 a.m. by a resident who woke to a fire alarm to find a bottle filled with flammable liquid on fire in the kitchen. The …

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Bradley Coopersmith

2:26 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013

Random Firebombings.   more ›

Autopsy to Determine Cause, Manner of Death of Grosse Pointe Park Woman

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office is performing the autopsy this morning on the 35-year-old woman found dead inside a home in the 1300 block of Wayburn early Thursday. If her death is ruled a homicide, it will be the second in about 18 months in

Grosse Pointe Park detectives are at the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office this morning awaiting the results of an autopsy of the 35-year-old woman found dead early Thursday.  Detectives were asked to be there at 8:30 a.m. and will be there until the autopsy is complete, Capt. David Loch said early Friday. The woman, identified by media as Sabrina Gianino, was the head receptionist at Platz Animal Hospital. Loch told Patch early Friday there had not been a history of 911 calls to the duplex where she was found, 1316 and 1314 Wayburn St. He declined to explain the nature of the call at this time.  According to a press release from the Grosse Pointe Park Department of Public Safety, the Michigan State Police crime lab is assisting in …

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Police Probe Attempted Firebombing at Van Elslander Home

A company spokeswoman told the Detroit Free Press that no one was injured in the incident at the home on Whittier in Grosse Pointe Park.

Grosse Pointe Park police are investigating an attempted firebombing of a home on Whittier Road, according to Click on Detroit. The home is owned by Gary Van Elslander, the president of Art Van Furniture, according to the Detroit Free Press. Company spokeswoman Diane Charles told the Free Press that no one was injured in the incident that took place at 3:30 a.m. Friday. Charles also said that police told the family they have someone in custody. Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.  

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Grosse Pointe Park Police Probe Attempted Firebombing

ClickonDetroit.com reports that a home on Whittier Road owned by the Van Elslander family was the target.

Autopsy Today in Grosse Pointe Park Woman's Death

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office will perform an autopsy today on the Grosse Pointe Park woman found dead inside a home in the 1300 block of Wayburn early Thursday.

A single Grosse Pointe Park police car and a series of television media trucks lining the 1300 block of Wayburn Street were the only signs of the ongoing death investigation of a woman found dead inside a duplex early Thursday.  Sabrina Gianino, who has been identified by several media outlets, lived in Grosse Pointe Park and had worked at Platz Animal Hospital. According to her Facebook page, she had been working there since 2006 as the head receptionist.  Pet owners from the Grosse Pointes have already begun expressing their sorrow about Gianino, commenting on Facebook about her kindness and help at the veterinary office. Others have expressed shocked about her death.  The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office is scheduled to perform an…

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Click It or Ticket Campaign Starts May 20 in Grosse Pointe Woods

Grosse Pointe Woods Director of Public Safety announced plans to participate in the annual campaign enforcing the use of seatbelts in moving vehicles. This year the enforcement focus will begin May 20 and end June 2.

Motorists driving in Grosse Pointe Woods should make sure to be buckled up as the Department of Public Safety prepares to begin its annual participation in the Click It or Ticket campaign.  The stepped-up enforcement for seatbelt usage will begin May 20 and continue through June 2, according to a press release issued by Director of Public Safety for the Woods, Andrew Pazuchowski.  Law enforcement departments from across the country participate in the campaign aimed at educating motorists about the importance of wearing a seatbelt and being properly restrained in a car.  Although Michigan laws require all people, drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts, Pazuchowski highlights statistics released by Michigan State Police for 2012 in which …

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