More money is being offered as a reward for tips regarding the December 2020 murder of Verona Township man, Ricky Bailey, with Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson reporting this past Friday that the reward amount had almost doubled since the press release was sent out last Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
Hanson says that $4500 has been further added to the reward fund, bringing up the grand total to $9100. The fund was started in February 2021, a little less than two months since Bailey’s death on December 30, 2020.
That night, police say that officers responding to a Rapson Road home found Bailey on the floor with two gunshot wounds, and his two sons, ages 11 and 20 at the time, also in the house. The youngest son told police that he, his brother and Bailey were in different rooms when he heard a door opening and went to go tell his father. However, the boy witnessed Bailey already on the floor, shot but still alive as two intruders demanded money from him.
According to a past press release, Sheriff Hanson said that, “The victim was then further physically assaulted by one of the assailants while the youngest son attempted to lock himself in a bathroom,” a move undone by one of the intruders kicking in the door, taking the boy to another room, and telling him to lie on the floor. It’s unclear if the intruders were aware of the 20-year-old son, who hid in another room and waited until they left to call police.
Bailey was taken to McLaren Thumb Region Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The sons were not harmed in the attack and described the two intruders as wearing all black ski masks, leather jackets, pants and gloves. While officials are unsure how the intruders arrived and left the scene, they theorized that Bailey’s home was targeted either because his family had only just recently moved into the home, or the intruders targeted the home due to its former occupants.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s office during regular business hours at 989-269-6500, or Huron Central dispatch at 989-269-6421 anytime. Confidential callers can use our confidential TIPS line at 989-269-2861. Information can also be sent via email to Detective Ford at forddco.huron.mi.us (fordd “at” co.huron.mi.us )
