Oakland County Cold Case Cracked After 27 Years

PONTIAC, MI — A man has been arrested in connection with an Oakland County murder that happened 27 years ago, according to the sheriff's office said Thursday.

On April 30, 1998, officers found 73-year-old Charles Barnett shot to death inside his Pontiac home on Corwin Street. Investigators believed he was fatally shot during a burglary after finding his crashed car. Investigators did not identify a suspect and the investigation eventually went cold.

The case remained dormant until 2020 when Sgt. Todd Hunt and retired Lt. Steve Troy reopened the case. While reviewing evidence, they were able to link 45-year-old Jack Anthony Young to the shooting, officials said.

Young, who was found living in Mishawaka, Indiana, was placed in jail. He is expected to be extradited to Pontiac next week.

Investigators believe Barnett walked into his small home and surprised Young, who was burglarizing the home at the time.

Young – then 18 – fired a deadly shot and fled, stealing Barnett’s car, which he crashed a short time later, officials said.

Officers found the crashed car and traced it back to Barnett’s home where they found his body, officials said.

"We never give up on our pursuit of justice for the victims, the families and the community," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "I’m proud of the constant review of cold cases that our team does. In this case, we have an opportunity to hold the accused perpetrator accountable after all these years."

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald charged Young with one count of felony murder, which is a life offense.

"Charles Barnett was taken from his loved ones 27 years ago, but he was never forgotten," McDonald said. "Thanks to an investigation that was never closed, we can now seek justice for Mr. Barnett."