Crime & Safety

Police Recover Body Believed to be Troy Man Patrick Mikes in Montrose Township

Mikes' son, Patrick Mikes Jr., was charged with his father's murder Thursday afternoon.

After several days of intensive searching, police have located what is believed to be the body of 55-year-old Troy man and father Patrick Joseph Mikes, who was last seen alive on July 26.

Police searching a corn field in Montrose Township discovered Mikes' body Friday morning around 11 a.m. As part of a large-scale search operation in Montrose Township on Thursday, police officers and firefighters had just begun combing through numerous corn fields in the area before the search ended for the day.

"Today, members of the Troy Police Department returned to Montrose Township to continue the search for Patrick Joseph Mikes," Troy Police spokesman Capt. Bob Redmond said. "A body believed to be that of Mr. Mikes was found several feet inside a corn field on Morris Road about a half mile north of Lake Road."

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When the search was called off around 7:30 p.m. Thursday due to dwindling daylight and inclement weather, Redmond and Troy Patch editor Jen Anesi were within 30 feet of the body. Investigators also located a bicycle matching the description of Mikes' bicycle nearby in the corn field.

“Confirmation on the identity of the body will be determined by the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office," Redmond said. 

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“We would like for the PD to personally thank the citizens of Montrose Township, the Montrose Police and Fire Departments for all their help in locating Mr. Mikes," he added.

Meanwhile, Patrick Joseph Mikes Jr. was  in 52-4 District Court in Troy. Mikes Jr. was denied bond and remains in the Oakland County Jail.

Troy Police announced the news of the arrest on Wednesday night; according to a report in the Detroit News, Mikes Jr. entered a plea of not guilty, and a preliminary exam was scheduled for Aug. 27. Mikes Jr. is being held in the Oakland County Jail without bond.

Police have said they believe Mikes Sr. was  on Homewood Drive on July 27. He was last seen alive by his 16-year-old son, Andrew Mikes, on the evening of July 26. 

Mikes did not show up for work on July 27, and investigators believe his 21-year-old son, Mikes Jr., who has been , did not see his father leaving for a bike ride that day, as he first reported to police Sunday morning.

Mikes Jr. also was seen on surveillance video purchasing a large quantity of cleaning supplies at a local store on July 27, according to Troy police.

Mikes Jr. was charged last Wednesday morning with  card to make purchases at the AMC Theatre and Johnny Rocket's in Auburn Hills on July 26. He was released last Thursday afternoon after his maternal grandparents paid his $50,000 bond, police said. He has been ordered not to contact his younger brother or leave the state.

Police say there is no known history of violent altercations between Mikes Jr. and his father. 

Several agencies have contributed to the investigation and search, including Michigan State Police, Oakland County Sheriff's Office, Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Montrose Police Department, FBI, Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office and the Major Case Assistance Team.

The Major Case Assistance Team includes investigators from the Auburn Hills Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bloomfield Township Police Department, Clawson Police Department, and the Rochester Hills substation of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.


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