Oakland County Man Arraigned On Murder Charge: Sheriff

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — A 50-year-old Springfield Township man has been arraigned on a first-degree murder charge after being accused of killing his girlfriend Thursday.

Vincent Merrill was arraigned Sunday on one count of first-degree homicide and one count of felony firearms, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. Merrill was denied bond, deputies said.

Oakland County Sheriff's deputies said the department's operations center on Thursday received a 911 call from man who said he had just killed his girlfriend in the 9200 block of Cherrywood Rd. before hanging up.

Deputies said they and the Springfield Township Fire Department responded to the scene and when they did they found a man — later identified as Merrill — sitting the grass outside a house. As deputies approached Merrill and asked what happened, he told them he shot and killed her, according to deputies. Merrill was taken into custody without incident and was secured in a patrol car.

Deputies said they entered the house and found a 60-year old woman dead from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim is believed to be the accused's live in girlfriend, deputies said.

A .380 semi-automatic handgun, which is believed to be the weapon used in the homicide, was found on a table in the basement, deputies said.